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“How do you plead?”He’s innocent! I did it.
My pulse roars as my stomach twists into knots, making it difficult to inhale.I did it, not him.
“Not guilty your—”
Without a second thought, I jump to my feet. “I did it your honor. Me. I killed Ash Davis.”
“Lilah, what are you doing?” Lexi whisper-shouts, but I ignore her.
I ignore everyone’s looks and everyone’s gasps. “Damian Prescott is innocent your honor.”
The judge glares at me, his brows bunched together. “Miss, please sit down and be quiet before I have you escorted out.” But I don’t stop.
“Your honor, didn’t you hear me? You have the wrong person. He didn't kill anyone, he’s protectingme! I should be up there, not him!”
There are whispers all around, everyone turns to look at me, including Damian who is furious.
The judge bangs on the gavel. “Order, order. I will have order now or everyone will be held in contempt!” There’s finally silence until the judge begins to speak again. “Counsel, sidebar. Now.”
They walk up to the bench, giving Damian a chance to look back at me, shaking his head in disapproval.I love you,I whisper. He can be mad, but at least he’ll be free.
I love you too, he mouths back, his eyes softening, and my heart hurts knowing I can’t hear those words.
Damian turns around as the attorneys return to their tables. “The arraignment is adjourned for this afternoon until both sides can figure out what is going on here. Next case.” A court officer drags Damian back to the cell as tears stroll down my face. I hope I didn’t make things worse. I hope we’ve reached the end of this horror show.
I sit back down, my hands trembling. “Lilah, what did you do?” Lexi asks, concerned.
I take a deep breath. “Do you know how difficult it’s been to keep this inside and let him take the blame? I couldn’t live with it. The truth is finally out and I won’t stop telling it until everyone listens and until he’s out.” She clasps my hand in hers and squeezes.
Gabe nods in understanding, “That was brave, really brave. But you know he was mad, right?” He cocks a brow in amusement.
“Oh, I know,” I say with a tight smile, “but he’ll just have to get over it.”
“Oh man,” Jax chuckles. “I like you.”
* * *
She stares, eyes squinting while she flips her pen around in her fingers. “Let me get this straight. You and Mr. Prescott decided to make up this lie instead of just telling the truth? I mean if it happened how you claim it happened you wouldn’t have even been charged. You were in your home and your ex-boyfriend broke in intending to do harm. It’s that simple. But now you what? Woke up and had a moral epiphany and decided to finally reveal the truth? Is that what you want me to believe?”
“Yes, that’s exactly right. I know it probably seems as though I’m making it up in order to save him, but that’snotthe case. He was the one who savedme.” I dig my nails into my hands under the table to suppress the nervous energy humming inside me.
“After Ash beat and raped me, Damian did the only thing he could do to protect me from any more pain, he took the fall. Everything happened so fast, so I just agreed. But I can’t do it anymore, because you see, I just want everyone to finally know what happened. Ash was a monster, he came to kill me and when I stabbed him, I thought he’d kill Damian. I was defending him. I’ll do whatever you need to show I’m being truthful. I’ll take a lie detector test, I’ll—”
“I appreciate you coming forward with this Ms. McDaniels, but I am still waiting on the forensics from that day, which will take a few days, and theywillshow the truth.” She glowers, then her anger is replaced by indifference.
“Oh, and lie detectors aren’t admissible in court but you're welcome to take one for the police if you wish. It will be collected as evidence by them. In the meantime, I will be re-interviewing Mr. Prescott, and I will get to the bottom of this one way or another.” She stands, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. “In the meantime, I suggest you get yourself an attorney.”
“I don’t need one.”
She clears her throat, looking at me with no emotion. “That’s what Mr. Prescott said before he got one. Thanks for coming in.” And that’s when I realize, she won’t make this easy, not at all.
* * *
DAMIAN
Later that day, I stood before the same judge who remanded me back to the courthouse jail. No bail. Not that I expected any different, but part of me was foolishly hopeful.
I miss her so damn much, wishing I could go back and savor those few moments alone we once had.
