Page 98 of Shattered

His brother laughed. “I think the press wants to know what the evidence is more than they’re agreeing with Holly. Come on, the trial will start in five minutes.”

They hurried through the courthouse to the room where they trial was being held. Mackenzie entered first, then Kalkin. Already, Royce, Charisma, Keeley, Danielle, and shit, his whole family sat along a bench near the back. Up front, Nico and Hayden along with Emmitt and Logan filled the first row. He made his way down the aisle and sat beside Nico. The soft murmur of the chamber surprised him. Heck in the first couple days of the trial, there’d been no one, just those who’d been meant to testify and Mackenzie’s family. Now it seemed all of Window Rock and then some, were there.

“The place is a madhouse,” Nico muttered.

“I met the press on the way in,” Mackenzie replied. “They’re ravenous.”

Hayden snorted. “Who knew my uterus and my mind would be the talk of the town?”

The snarky snap of her tone settled Mackenzie. “Well it’s an important uterus and brain.”

Nico barked out a laugh. “Crazy old man.”

Mackenzie shrugged.

“All rise,” the bailiff said, as the door the judge used opened and the man in the black robe entered the courtroom. “Come to order. Judge Stanley Wright presiding.”

The judge sat. He banged the gavel then cleared his throat. “You may be seated. Good morning, everyone. May I remind you all the witnesses are still sworn in. Mr. Franks, please redirect your witness.”

“Your Honor,” Mr. Walker said. “I object. We haven’t been given enough time to review the evidence or the report attached to it. For all we know this is another attempt for the Raferty family to lie.”

“Overruled,” Judge Wright remarked. “This is a settled matter. The paperwork which you went over in my presence matches up. I allowed it due to extenuating circumstances. Now, Mr. Franks, proceed.”

“The State calls Hayden Raferty-Lopez back to the stand,” D.A. Charles Franks said.

Hayden stood then made her way to the witness chair. When she was situated, she stated her name once more for the record. “Good morning, Your Honor.” The smile she flashed the man was filled with death and purpose. The spark his niece had been missing returned with a vengeance

“Good Morning, Mrs. Raferty-Lopez,” D.A. Franks said. “You’ve had a traumatic weekend.”

“I did, but I feel much better now.” She cut her gaze to her aunt. “So much better.”

“Good to hear,” DA Franks replied. “I’d like to visit where the defense left off last time, we were present in court.”

Hayden nodded folding her hands in her lap. “Sure. Not like it wasn’t traumatic or anything.”

Charles frowned. “I’m sure it didn’t feel exactly pleasant having your sexual history put on display.” He grabbed a folder off the table then made his way to the podium. “Did you ever have sexual relations with Nico Lopez before you turned eighteen?”

“No,” Hayden said, staring at her aunt. “Never. I didn’t even know Nico was my mate until after I was kidnapped. For the second time.”

“We’ll come back to the kidnapping in a second. First, why would your aunt say Nico had sex with you while you were still a minor?”

Hayden snorted. “She hated Nico from the minute I met him in the Sheriff’s Department. She knows very well I never did anything with Nico before it was legal. In fact, I lost my virginity to him while I was in college at the age of twenty.”

“Twenty?” D.A. Franks prodded. “Why so long?”

“He cheated on me and broke my heart,” she answered. “So, when I went away to college, I saw it as a way to make a clean break.”

“But you still waited for Nico?”

“I drunkenly asked a friend to be my first.” Hayden blushed then gave a soft laugh. “Nico about lost his mind.”

“Nico was there?”

“Yes. He followed me. My whole family knew that little tidbit.” She smirked.

“Objection,” Mr. Walker said. “Relevance?”

“Since Mr. Walker brought up Hayden’s sexual history, I believe she has the right to refute the characterization constructed by her aunt and her lawyer, Your Honor,” Charles said.

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