Page 22 of Redemption

I grin. “Totally and maybe a dog or two?”

“Sure.”

The ring glows on her left hand. “He’s going to freak when you show up in court wearing his ring.

“Do you think he’ll forgive me?”

“Um, he’ll probably get tased, vaulting over the bench to get to you. He’s so crazy in love. He forgave you when you hid me, kept me safe and away that night. But what about you? You’ve been on the lam… the Feds will still deport you.”

“Let them. Italy is beautiful. You’ll love it there. Rafe’s calling. Rafe?”

“It’s all set. I have three copies of the copyright. I’ve already sent it to a dozen agents here in Manhattan. They’re going crazy over the rights toRomeo Roque.But they also likeVillainous Poet. It could go either way. It’s up to the publishing house what to title the book after we sell the rights to it. Are you sure?”

“Well, the ending is still incomplete…”

“It’ll be a trilogy. A bestselling one.”

“Okay. We are on our way to the courthouse. Keep us posted.”

“This is going to be big ratings.”

The press goes nuts as we exit the car. Guards and police have to shove the crowd back from us as we climb the courthouse steps. “Romina! Chloe! How can you love a monster! A sex trafficker!”

“Free Romeo Roque!” A mob of women dressed in curlers and house robes descend.

“Damn those housewives don’t play around!”

Finally, we are safe inside, where a clerk working for the prosecutor’s escort us into a heavily guarded courtroom. The grand jury is already seated. Their judgey eyes wander over to us. The only people sitting behind Roque’s defense team. Johnny is still underground, taking over with Roque’s cousins while this plays out.

The judge enters and we all rise. Then Roque is brought out. He’s in his favorite black Armani tux. He waltzes in with his devil’s smile and Hollywood charm. Every woman on the jury melts. I see it.

“I love you, dad!” I mouth. He winks at me. The raises his hand and swears on the bible to tell the truth as he takes the witness stand.

“Here we go,” Romina whispers as she takes my hand in hers. Roque pauses. His nostrils flare as he notices the ruby on her ring finger. Then he winks at her, too. A shudder runs through her. Yep, their love story is so not over…

* * *

ROQUE

She’s stunning. It takes everything in me not to break everything in the way between me and her. I need this to work. The life I have planned for Little Red is an epic one. Right after I tan that ass for thinking I could traffic women.

“Mr. Salvatore, are you aware of the charges being brought against you?”

I straighten my tie, causally leaning back in the chair. “I am.”

“Has your counsel advised you it’s in your best interest to remain silent?”

“He said no such thing. I am innocent.”

The judge raises his brows. “All right. Prosecution may proceed.”

“Mr. Salvatore…,” the cocky as fuck prosecutor thinks he has me by the balls but thanks to my superhero women sitting across the aisle, we are about to throw him a major curveball. “Why don’t you save the taxpayers some time and money and plead guilty? We can sweeten the deal if you sing about other operations.”

“Objection!”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.” I reply at the same time my attorneys go berserk.

The judge picks up his gavel, banging it angrily. “Sustained.”

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