Page 16 of Honorable Convictions
“Yes, Your Honor,” Mitchell answered. “Both were purchased by Alpha Barstow Panthera, so he’d like to retain the deeds.”
“Your Honor, both were purchased after he met Jelena Panthera. They must be treated as community property. My client is entitled to the value of half of both.”
“Alpha Barstow would like the court to consider that the first property is within walking distance of Council Headquarters and should it be sold, there is no guarantee he will be able to purchase something of similar value in both price and proximity to his job,” Mitchell stated.
There was an urgent conversation between Pierson and Jelena, and Mitchell took the opportunity to study the gorgeous blond he’d miss once this separation agreement was finalized. The case might bring them in close contact if he was lucky. Surely, after enough of these, they’d find a way to resolve their past and ongoing differences. Caught between being forlorn over their distance and the impulse to say something to purposely rile Pierson up, Mitchell was mired in indecision.
“Your Honor, that house was picked out and lovingly decorated by my client,” Pierson said, and Mitchell nearly laughed. It was a weak argument, and with the dirty look his mate gave him, he knew it.
“That holds little regard in a court of law, JK Murphy. The first property will remain in Alpha Barstow Panthera’s name, and Jelena Panthera will be compensated for half its market price. The interior contents will solely belong to Barstow Panthera. The second will be sold and the value split between both. Let’s discuss money. JK Murphy, what is your client asking for?”
“Half of Alpha Panthera’s worth, Your Honor.”
Mitchell chuckled. “Come on, Blondie, there’s no precedent for that.”
“Precedents can be set at any time, and there is no law that caps the amount a mate can ask for.”
“They’ve only been together for five years. Alpha Panthera has been building his portfolio for centuries. Jelena Panthera had ten dollars in her pocket when they met and no roof over her head.”
“She is a jaguar, and her poverty is an example of the poor job Alpha Panthera has done of caring for his people.”
“JK Murphy, we are not in the habit of insulting Council leaders in this courtroom,” the judge interjected. “Based on the first fifty years of Jelena Panthera’s existence, I am going to give her forty percent. Let’s move on to the physical section. JK Brooks, what is your client’s position?”
“You let her get forty percent,” Alpha Panthera complained quietly. “I changed my mind…she can see how celibacy feels.”
“Your Honor, Alpha Panthera is asking that his mate, the woman picked out for him by Fate, honor that connection by abstaining from sexual relations with other people.”
“Your Honor, if Alpha Panthera was so concerned with his mate, we wouldn’t be here today. Both should be able to go on with their lives how they wish.”
“JK Murphy, nothing is as sacred as a matebond. This separation is nothing to be celebrated and should be approached in a solemn manner. Both mates will abstain from relations with other people for the entire six months I am granting for this temporary split. Alpha and Ms. Panthera, I suggest you find a way to honor Fate and solve your issues.”
With that, the judge slammed down his gavel and disappeared.
“Nice job,” Alpha Panthera sneered. “Now I have to be celibate for the next six months, and there should be a law capping the amount of money a mate has to hand over.”
Since the only man Mitchell could ever sleep with was glaring at him as if he were planning his imminent demise, he had little sympathy for Alpha Panthera. Barstow should find a way to make things work with Jelena just as someday Mitchell and Pierson would have to figure out their shit. For now, he had no choice but to watch the blond man who haunted his dreams walk away yet again.
Chapter 9
1961 AD
The newly constructed Order of the Fallen Knights Headquarters
Las Vegas, Nevada
Juris Knight Pierson Murphy was a man few people dared cross. Since his resurrection, Pierson had worked without a single day off. Given how well he’d conducted himself and the number of cases he’d cleared, he should’ve been regarded as the unequivocal best, but there was another man who’d spent the last fifty-six years building an impeccable reputation. Unlike Pierson, he’d had to work his way up the ladder of Juris Knight offices and somehow, he’d finally ascended to the glorified headquarters office.
As Juris Knight Mitchell Brooks walked in through the glass double doors, Pierson tried to squelch the riot of emotions that wanted to spill out. It should’ve been impossible given that they hardly knew each other, but Pierson had missed him. Fate had decided they should be together and though they’d made no real attempt to honor her, he doubted either of them were able to deny their destiny. But as the decades had passed, the desire inside him to claw at Mitchell grew, and he despised the way his cock stirred the moment his mate walked into a room.
“Hey, Blondie,” Mitchell taunted.
“Brooks.”
“Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”
Since there were people around, Pierson had no real choice but to engage in small talk. “Of course. Congratulations on landing Las Vegas. With a larger headquarters than we enjoyed in DC, we were able to expand the number of Juris Knights we could find desks for. As I’m sure you’re aware, the way cases are assigned has been changed with all major ones being sent here. It was inevitable that you’d be among the several chosen.”
“That almost sounds like a compliment.”
