Page 31 of His Prize

I heard the whispers around me. I heard people murmuring at my expense. And after three days of running around, trying to figure out the truth, I came to one conclusion.

The hot water heater had nothing to do with the explosions three days ago.

You keep trying to kill me, but it’ll never work, Pava.

“All rise.” The bailiff’s voice sounded across the room, and my uncle’s eyes snapped forward.

I stood with the crowd with the help of Ash. Then the judge entered the courtroom. I tuned out everything as I peered over my shoulder, waiting for Israel to walk through the double doors that led into this place.

But, as we all sat down, he didn’t appear.

My only guess was that he was dealing with the hot water heater explosion, which we both knew was anything but that. It still hurt, though. While I understood his need to fix things the second they happened, I needed his support. I needed his guidance. I needed his well of strength to draw from as I sat in that courtroom.

He was nowhere to be found, though.

The trial carried on for a while. People came to the stand to testify, both for and against my uncle’s honor. Evidence was produced and counter-evidence was thrown at the judge. And at one point in time, the two lawyers started bickering right there in the middle of the floor. The judge had to bang his gavel to announce a ten-minute recess after almost three hours of this fucking nonsense.

And still, Israel had yet to show.

“He might’ve had a previous engagement,” Ash whispered.

I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. This is just as important to him as it is to me. I’m not the only one my uncle’s trying to murder here.”

I kept an eye over my shoulder all damn afternoon. And not once did Israel crop up. My heart dropped to the floor as the judge dismissed us for the day, and I felt someone staring at me. I looked up and saw my uncle grinning. His eyes sparkled with vicious mischievousness, and I found myself wanting to claw them out.

But, my want to dig out his eyes didn’t overshadow the hurt I felt with Israel’s absence.

He reallyisleaving me.

“Come on. We should get you to the car,” Ash said.

I took the arm she offered. “Let’s stop to get some coffee before we head back. I need it after all of this.”

“My thoughts exactly, Miss Bonnie.”

I walked with my bodyguard, arm in arm, as we headed out of the courthouse. And the entire time, I thought about how screwed up my situation was. The entire reason why I stayed and decided to fight with Israel was that I wanted him to love me. I didn’t want power, and I didn’t want leadership. I wanted no part in my family’s business or even Israel’s. All I wanted was for the man I loved to love me in return.

“You know that girl?” Ash asked.

I paused. “What girl?”

She nodded. “The one giving you the evil eye right now.”

I looked over to where Ash was nodding, and I saw Brianna glaring at me. She had her arms folded over her chest while she stood by her mother, who kept wiping away tears from her eyes. My heart went out to my cousin. A girl I had grown up with. My best friend, up until a few months ago. She didn’t ask for this, either. She never asked for this vengeance, or this lifestyle, or this bullshit.

“Miss Moretti?”

Ash stepped in front of me. “And you are?”

I patted her on the shoulder. “This is Detective Alistair. Israel’s PI.”

She peered over her shoulder. “So, you know him?”

I nodded. “I’m familiar with him. It’s okay.”

Ash stepped off to the side, and the detective nodded.

“I’m sorry to approach you so abruptly, Miss Moretti. But, I’m working with the assigned officer on your hit-and-run case.”

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