Page 4 of Riot

“Very well.Now, for ease of communication, I’d like to use first names with the affected parties.So,” she addressed Doug, “Mr.Douglas.”Then she turned to Violet and Caleb.“Mrs.Violet.Mr.Caleb.Does everyone understand?”When everyone acknowledged her, she continued.“Now where would you like to begin, Ms.Thompson?”

“Mr.Caleb is here today, willing to explain.”Lana placed a hand on Caleb’s shoulder.

“Your Honor, this is highly improper!”

“No, Mr.Todd.Your client might think he’s better than everyone else, but in my courtroom, he’s on the wrong side of the bench.”She turned, her sharp gaze focusing on Caleb.“Young man, for the record, are you Mr.Caleb Harrington?”

Caleb stood up straight.“Uh, yes, I am, Your Honor.”He added the last part as he cleared his throat, clearly nervous but trying so hard to do and say the right thing.

“Good.Who’s your friend?”She met and held my gaze.

Caleb turned, looked down at me, and swallowed.The kid was trying his best, but this was an unfamiliar situation.I could relate to where he was coming from.I’d literally been there.

Slowly, I stood.When I straightened, I put a light hand on Caleb’s shoulder.“My name’s Quinn Devereaux, Your Honor.I’m here to support Mr.Caleb, so he knows he’s got a protector for him and his mother.Someone to stand up for them.”I could see Violet’s shoulders slump as I spoke.The woman was… beaten down.She was expecting to lose this hearing and have her world shattered.

“That’s great, Judge Whitmore.”Mr.Todd waved a hand toward me.“Have a thug here to intimidate my client?On behalf of Mr.Harrington, I demand you make this guy leave immediately.”

“Oh, Mr.Todd,” Judge Whitmore shook her head in a way that said she was sorry for the guy when she really wasn’t.“You’ve just earned contempt charges.The fine won’t be light and there will be no getting out of paying.”The guy opened his mouth, probably to protest or some shit but Judge Whitmore continued.“The next offense for you opening your big mouth and not following my rules, Mr.Todd, will be a night in jail.You might manage to get yourself out on bail before morning, but I’m willing to bet you’d love to avoid those few hours you’d be in a holding cell -- with several other men awaiting their arraignment.”Then she addressed me.“Mr.Devereaux, I happen to know your current circumstances.”She didn’t elaborate.“I’m inclined to believe you’re not here to cause trouble.”She raised an eyebrow like she was an overly patient teacher waiting for the correct answer from a slightly naughty first grader.I didn’t take offense.

“No plans on starting trouble, Your Honor.”I tried to smile, but not very hard.This wasn’t my courtroom or my problem in any way, and I was already pissed as fuck at this Doug Harrington prick.“I’m here to support Mr.Caleb and his mother.Nothing more.”I paused, glancing over at the little weasel, Todd.“Though, I won’t lie and say I won’t bethinkin’ about causin’ trouble.”I let my Southern accent out in a rolling drawl as full of sarcasm as it was geniality.“Just a bit.”

“Abitof trouble I can handle, young man.Just mind your manners and I think we’ll all be fine.”

Even though my anger still smoldered, I felt my lips twitch.I liked this judge.“Yes, Your Honor.”

Chapter Two

Violet

I knew the second two police officers escorted Doug into the courtroom things were going to go bad for me.The only question was how hard it would be on Caleb.Doug hadn’t physically hurt Caleb, but I knew he was capable of it.For some reason, though, he’d held himself back until now.I wasn’t sure what had changed, but there had been a definite shift in power dynamics.Doug was having to be more aggressive with Caleb to keep his dominance, so when Caleb laid down his ultimatum -- leave Doug or Caleb was going to kill him -- I had to leave.I absolutely believed Caleb would kill Doug if he had half a chance.

A firm grip on my shoulder had me turning to look over it.Caleb gave me a steady look.I swear to God, the kid was too grown up for my peace of mind.I should be the one giving him support, not the other way around.I smiled, reaching up to squeeze his hand.

“It’s gonna be all right, Mom.”He must have seen my unease as I’d watched Doug walk in.I knew better than Caleb what the look on his dad’s face meant, but Caleb knew his dad was absolutely furious.

“I got your back, too.”Riot’s deep voice sent a shiver through me.A quick glance his way and I met his gaze for a brief moment.His eyes were piercing, like he could see all my fears and pain and thought he was ready to help me fight them.He’d soon find out he was wrong.No one took on Douglas Harrington and won.

“Thank you.”I tried to smile, but wasn’t sure I actually managed it.Then I met my son’s gaze and I really did smile.Not so much to reassure him as because I couldn’t help it.Caleb would always make me smile as long as he was in the world.I’d fight for him with everything in me, but if either me or Caleb ended up killing Doug, it wasn’t going to be Caleb.

“I’ve got you both.”Riot put his hand on top of Caleb’s, as if he were shielding us by putting himself between us and everything else.I knew it was fanciful thinking, but just once in my life, I wanted someone to fight for me.For Caleb.I’d die for my son, but I knew his father wouldn’t.In fact, I was fairly certain Doug would sacrifice Caleb if it was in his own best interest.

The judge had been giving Doug and his attorney a piece of her mind, but everything seemed to have calmed down now.Lana leaned into me.“Don’t say or do anything.Don’t move a muscle unless Judge Whitmore gives you explicit instructions.Understand?”I nodded.Lana seemed like she was looking forward to whatever was about to happen.I turned my attention back to the proceedings.

“Now that we understand proper courtroom etiquette, perhaps we can move on?”She raised her eyebrows as her gaze landed on Doug and his lawyer, obviously waiting for one of them to say something.

“Yes, Your Honor.We sincerely apologize for any offense caused the court.”Doug’s lawyer was always good at making any wrong he did or harm he caused seem like nothing.Like any offense was subjective and open to interpretation, and his interpretation was really the only one that mattered.

Judge Whitmore merely nodded, a small grin on her face.“I see.”And I was certain the woman reallydidsee.I might have lucked into the one judge in the whole district who wouldn’t cave to Doug’s demands.“Ms.Thompson.Tell me why we’re here.”

Lana stood and immediately got to the point.“Your Honor, my client is requesting emergency custody of her son, Mr.Caleb Harrington, for alleged mental and physical abuse.I’d like to add that I’ve brought this matter before the court at the request of Mr.Caleb himself.Not his mother.”

Judge Whitmore smiled kindly as she looked over my shoulder to Caleb.“Young man, is this true?”

Caleb looked over at Riot who nodded.Caleb stood and cleared his throat.“Yes, ma’am.I-I mean, Your Honor --”

“Your Honor,” Mr.Todd interrupted, “Mr.Caleb’s a child.A very impressionable one who loves his mother.Violet has manipulated her son just as she tried to manipulate Mr.Doug.Poor Mr.Caleb can’t see his mother’s duplicity.”

“That’s not true.”Caleb clenched his fists at his side.He hadn’t yelled, but he hadn’t been quiet with his remark.

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