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17: Beatrice
"Do you have any cash, Trey?" My voice was wobbling as the taxi sped off into traffic, swerving as if we were mid-chase and we were trying to lose a tail.
"Cash? No. Well, maybe," his voice sounded unsure. "Maybe like a hundred bucks. What do you need cash for? You're loaded," Trey said as he glanced nervously out the rearview window as we sped through traffic toward our destination.
"I only have my phone, which means I'll have to use my e-wallet. We need cash for the hotel," I gasped out as I groaned from the pain the last half an hour of effort had brought. The pain meds that my last cab driver had gotten for me had kicked in and it had taken the edge off, but the dull ache was ever present, reminding me that I had been shot.
"Why do we need to use cash for the hotel?" Trey asked, completely oblivious to
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Caught in the Crossfire 18: Beatrice
I accepted the news that someone was trying to actively kill me with a great deal of grace. I only screamed in the shower twice. Granted, that was an hour after Alessio told me that I had been the target of the shooting, and the shouts were two minutes apart, but it was still only twice. I feel that under normal circumstances there would have been a lot more shouting involved.There was a small reward in withholding the third well of emotion that rose in my chest. It felt like an anvil was pressing on my chest, crushing me from within. Each day it pushed harder and harder. I knew eventually I would give up; I would reach a point when I had too much, and I would succumb to the pressure.Luckily, that was not today. Two shouts and I had achieved the release I needed.The water of the shower coursed over my
Caught in the Crossfire 19: David
I stood in Tommas’ office and watched as he paced back and forth behind his desk, his words permeating the air. The entire floor could hear him, probably the entire building. Michael stood next to me, and we listened with stoic faces. “SHE WAS FUCKING SHOT! DO YOU KNOW WHAT A FUCKING MESS THIS IS GOING TO BE?” My blood was boiling but I kept my retort inside. He was worried about what a mess it was, and I was worried about keeping Beatrice alive. I knew logically that he cared about her, but he was focusing on the wrong thing. I nodded, words weren’t necessary, all three of us knew what would happen now. One of us would have to do something illegal to keep her alive and none of us were too keen to be the one to do it. “I’M GOING TO HAVE TO TELL THE FAMILY
Caught in the Crossfire 20: Beatrice
I pressed submit and leaned back in my chair. One case down, two to go. I was less than 48 hours post gunshot wound and I had already bargained a plea for Alessio's sister and organized the rest of the evidence from Alessio's case into a timeline. I was sitting at a long table in Alessio's second (or maybe third? who knew) home in the DC Metro area where we were due to file a motion this morning. Alessio had naturally brought me back to his home. After listening to my complaints about being in New York when his case was still being brought before a judge in DC, he finally relented and flew us all back to DC late last night. My threats to take the train were what finally did him in. As soon as he heard my plans to ride the train back to the city, a look of horror crossed his face and he called his pilot to get the plane ready within the hour. Apparently the train was for us peasants and he couldn't h
Caught in the Crossfire 21: Beatrice
A few minutes later we were sitting in the back of an Escalade, driving toward the courthouse, the four of us each lost in our own thoughts as Alessio found a place to park and we piled out of the vehicle, Trey once again helping me walk as we made our way toward the building. "Go sit down," Trey said as he gestured toward the bench near the courtroom doors. I nodded and walked slowly toward the bench, Alessio coming up to my side and grasping my hand in support. Trey was walking purposefully toward a coffee cart, a wad of cash in his hand. "You don't need to help me," I said as I tried to walk on my own. One cringe and a sigh of frustration later and I had grasped Alessio's arm as if I was falling off a cliff and he was the only one able to pull me to safety. "I think I do," he said with a soft bark of laughter.
Caught in the Crossfire 22: Beatrice
I could hear the murmur of Devon whispering in my ear as I sat with effort. He reached out to support my arm which I subtly pulled away and tucked against my abdomen, out of his grasp. I leaned heavily on Trey's arm, angled away from Devon as Trey helped me sit. I had a feeling, deep in my gut, that Trey knew exactly who he was directing me toward. As I settled down on the bench, I stomped on Trey's foot and sent him a glare. He tried to look innocent, but I knew his games. He looked away guiltily and I sat stiff on the wooden bench, my abdomen screaming in pain. "Not even a bullet can keep the mighty Beatrice Welsh down," Devon whispered with a slight smile as I studiously ignored him. The judge was coming into the room, and we stood, with some effort, as she entered and sat. Our case was next, so we sat l
Caught in the Crossfire 23: Beatrice
"Defendant would like to file a Motion to Dismiss," I say, my voice resounding in the courtroom. I knew our case would be closely watched and now it appeared that the entire courtroom was hanging on my every word. I could hear murmurs in the back of the courtroom, some of shock, others of disgust. "That's absurd, on what grounds?" Andrew asked, interrupting my speech with his angry outburst. "Counselor, wait your turn," Judge Martinson spoke to Andrew before she turned to me. "Permission to approach, Your Honor," I asked. The judge nodded her head and Alessio helped me stand. I took the motion from Callie's hands, and she stood to offer a copy to Andrew. I slowly made my way toward the judge's stand, brushing Alessio's hand off and murmuring for him to stay put
Caught in the Crossfire 24: Beatrice
The painkillers I had taken were wearing off. Or, it could be that the pain I felt when I realized I had forgotten that this was the anniversary of Leah's death was overwhelming me. I didn't know which it was and it really didn't matter. One year ago, a part of my soul died. Alessio kept his arm around me as he steered me through the courtroom, out the doors, and toward the waiting Escalade out front. There were cameras flashing and I thought absently that this was the first time I would see photos on the news where the defendant was protecting the lawyer instead of the other way around. "Your friend," Alessio started and I felt a lump rise in my throat. "You were close?" I nodded, unable to say anything. "What was her name?" Alessio asked, his eyes gentl
Caught in the Crossfire 25: Beatrice
The memory slammed into focus as I glared at those roses. The roses mocked me, their colours as vibrant as a sunrise. I knew Leah loved them, but just like in the memory, I knew Leah was dead. She didn't know about the roses. The roses were for me. I dropped the daisies at Leah's grave and snatched up the flowers, pulling the bouquet to my face and looking for a card. A thorn scraped against my finger, one the florist had missed trimming while making the arrangement. I let out a curse as I popped my finger in my mouth and held the flowers with my other hand. I saw a card and I grabbed it. My fingers shook as I dropped the flowers and opened the card. "May all your sunrises be as vibrant May all your dreams be fulfilled.
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