Page 29 of Trading Up
She’d lost custody of Cece to Will because there was documented proof she was coming apart at the seams and had been drugging him. Then there was the night of the shootingthat had really sealed the deal for the family court judge that she couldn’t be trusted around a baby.
Then there was the fact that she’d been ordered to go to a psychiatric facility to undergo some testing since she claimed she had a mental breakdown. Well, her breaking out of said facility, after seducing one of the married guards, and having him help her escape and stay hidden, she didn’t get another chance to pull that. She was sent to an all-women’s prison until her first court date.
The prosecutor had presented all of the evidence, more than enough to bury her for years, and finally, today, we were going to learn her fate. Guilty or fertilizer? I was ready for either option, though I’d most definitely have to take her through a wood chipper first before getting ready to plant the flowerbeds. I couldn’t stop thinking about that day, and I was so sure that I’d be able to start moving on once I knew she was locked up for good, or dead. All I could think of was all the blood, the blank, empty look on Sarah’s face, and the fear that ran through me.
I had come home shortly after Paloma had taken Sarah by knifepoint. I saw her being walked up from the garden towards the side door. I watched as the blood soaked her shirt and overalls. I could see every-mother-fucking-thing from the living room. I called the police, letting them know what was happening, and to please hurry with an ambulance. Then I started calling all of my new neighbors, praying someone was playing hooky or stopped home for a late lunch or fuck. I didn’t care at that moment. I just needed help. Thankfully, Don was home. He made his way over to the six-foot fence, slung his arms over, and smiled at Sarah.
*Flashback*
“Hey neighbor,” his friendly tone startled Paloma. Startled and alarmed, she looked at him like he had three heads. It gave me the chance to move closer without being seen. I used it to my advantage, getting as close as I could without giving away my position. I was close enough that I could reach out and grab Sarah’s arm and pull her to me. I knew this would be risky, that there was a chance she could startle and start swinging. But the way she tensed, curled like a rattlesnake ready to strike, I knew I didn’t have time to wait. I was going to have to make my move.
“Beautiful day out today, isn’t it? Veggies are looking good. Who’s your friend, Sarah?” I heard Don call out, trying to stall them. I was hiding behind the side of the house, just inside the side door. They were to my left, and Don was over to the far left, distracting Paloma, making her look away from where I was.
“What time is Dev coming home? I was going to see if you guys wanted to grill out with me and Martha tonight?” He said, sounding as though it were a real offer. At the mention of my name, it seemed like she snapped back with it. Sarah’s eyes moved toward the house, like she were looking at it for the last time.
Then she saw me.
I held my hand out to count down.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
I jumped out, snatching Sarah’s arm as she reached for me. I pulled her into my body, my right arm bringing my firearm eye level with her.
“Freeze bitch.”
*End of Flashback*
It had taken us years to get here. We had to go to the hospital after that, because she needed stitches in her side. We also found out we were pregnant. With twins. We were referred to a high-risk OBGYN and found out we were eleven weeks along.
We didn’t want to wait, and neither did the boys, so we went ahead with the wedding. They wanted my last name when their mom got it. I couldn’t have been a happier man that day than seeing the three of them walking down the aisle toward me. They gave me a C and an M to wear on my chain, and I gave them their first chains. We signed the adoption papers the day before the wedding and shared the news at the reception.
Everything was smooth with life and the pregnancy. We talked with the boys, making sure they were okay with the news of two new siblings. And Mave’s response was great. He grinned and said he couldn’t wait to share a room with his little brother.
Both of them wanted brothers. They didn’t want any sisters.
Both of them were sorely disappointed when we found out one of the babies was a little sister. Carter and Maverick were incredibly unhappy with little Delaney, but were alright with Dex. Over the last year, though, they’ve grown to love her. All her brothers are incredibly protective of her. Sarah was home with all four of the kids. The twins were sick, and the boys had school, and unfortunately, this might run late. I was here withmy parents, though. I stood when we were supposed to, and I sat when I was told. I was trying to steady my nerves, my knee bouncing up and down rapidly.
“Foreman of the jury, how do you find?”
“We, the jury, find the defendant guilty on all charges.”
Chaos erupted from the defense table. Paloma was screaming and crying, throwing a tantrum on the floor, while the jury foreperson tried to read off the charges they found her guilty of. The judge banged his gavel three times, found her guilty of contempt, and sentenced her to a night in jail at the courthouse.
“Sentencing will be in one week. Court is adjourned.”
T W E N T Y-N I N E: Sentencing
Sarah’s POV
Sitting in the courtroom waiting to hear how long her sentence would be, seeing her sitting only a few feet away from us, wasalmostmore than I could bear.Almost. I didn’t want to even look at the woman who’d tried to kill me and Row. I didn’t want to think about her and her crazy shit anymore. I wanted to say my piece to her and the courts, and then I wanted to close this chapter. I wanted to make sure I never had to see her again.
