Page 1 of His Prize

1

Bonnie

“All risefor the Honorable Judge Newton.”

As I stood with the entry of the judge, I thought back to a few weeks ago. Back to the time where I had my uncle at gunpoint, and I relished the moment. In some ways, I was shocked by the fact that he even made it to trial. Especially given how much I wanted to slaughter him myself. The hell that man had put me through and all the things he had done to my world for his own personal gain would’ve made anyone pull that trigger.

But, seeing him in an orange jumpsuit and cuffed to the table was enough revenge for me.

In some ways, it’s even sweeter.

“You all right?” Israel murmured in my ear.

I nodded slowly. “I’m fine but thank you.”

“If you need anything—”

“I know.” I looked up into his eyes as we all sat down. “I know, Israel. I promise.”

My gaze turned back toward my uncle, and I couldn't stop watching him. I couldn't stop staring at him. In some ways, I still wasn’t sure I believed everything that had transpired. In some ways, I still felt like it was my own family on trial right now. And it sickened me to think that way. After hearing him admit to killing my parents, handing him over to the authorities, and suffering from nightmares for the past—oh, I don't know how long now—it should’ve been easy to write him off. It should’ve been easy to cut all of them out and move on.

It wasn’t, though.

Not when it meant that I had no family anymore.

“Case number 45T93-04; The State of Illinois versus Pava Moretti. The charges are fifteen counts of premeditated murder, four counts of conspiracy to commit fraud, five counts of bribing police officials, two counts of money laundering…”

As they rattled off all of the charges my uncle faced, I stole a glance over at Israel. Even though he was here with me, he kept his distance. We were back to sleeping in separate bedrooms. Back to running different schedules. Back to the way things were before all of this shit came to life. It was as if we had just been married and we were trying to get to know one another again.

Except this time, I was heir to my uncle’s empire.

And that gave me more power than I had ever imagined possible.

Granted, it was Israel who partially walked me into this in the first place. So, I wasn’t sure why he kept his distance. Or, insisted on it, anyway. The way I felt toward him had to take a back burner after my uncle got arrested a month ago. And once people started looking to me for answers about the family business? I hadn’t had a free moment since to consider anything else except what the fuck I was going to do from this point on. I was in way over my head. And with Israel tiptoeing around me, it felt like I needed to be on my guard all the time.

Which wasn’t easy when I still lived with the man.

“... and how do you plead, Mr. Moretti? For the jury to hear.”

My uncle’s voice boomed over our heads. “Not guilty, Your Honor.”

I shook my head slowly and let out a hefty sigh. I felt some people turning to steal a glance at me, but I didn’t care. I had to project an air of confidence and immovability with the role I had been thrust into now. But it was hard. Especially when all I wanted to do was wring that man’s neck until his life left his eyes.

And cry.

That, too.

My only saving grace was the fact that I was now privy to the family’s financials. And I knew for a fact that there was no way in hell my uncle would buy his way out of this. I had no idea the family owed so much money to people. I had no idea the business was in such ruin. All because of my uncle too. He never could let the idea of making money go, even if it cost him everything. I sat there, trying to run figures in my mind, count things up, and figure out a strategic plan to get this family back on track. Hell, possibly even better than we’ve been.

But, Israel’s voice sounded in my ear again. “You sure you don’t need anything?”

I slowly looked over at him. “Either get me something or don’t. But, stop with the questions. You’re freaking me out.”

He stared at me for a while, and I stared right back. It was true. I meant every word. Israel had become a completely different person in my presence ever since I had stepped up to the plate for my family, and I didn’t like it. He kept treating me with kid gloves. As if, at any moment now, I’d pull out a gun and put a bullet between his eyes just because our families were rivals. Was that all he thought of me? After everything we had been through and everything we’d done together, did he really think I’d kill him just like that?

I mean, the original plan was to kill him. Can you blame the man?

I slowly turned my gaze back to the trial, but I didn’t hear another word of it. I just sat there with a straight back, my legs crossed, and a blank stare on my face. I didn’t care how long it took us, but I wanted to see that man thrown into jail. I wanted to celebrate his death as those he had turned his back on mauled him, shredding him in some jail cell somewhere. I didn’t want to be the cause of his death, though. That was the first streak I wanted to stop in this family.

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