Damien

The next few months passed by like a blur. Marcus tried to fight for his right to my kids, but my
power and money is far greater than his and the fact that he signed a document relinquishing all his right to Ty and Michy made his appeal a lost cause. the court has also set a date to his trial which is to begin next week. Once news broke out that he was in custody, his men sang like a canary and gave the authorities everything they needed to cement the case against him in exchange for a lesser sentence. They also gave them what they needed to go after all of Marcus contacts and other crime lords. Everything just fell like dominoes.

Marcus is facing life in prison with no possibility of parole. in my opinion, he deserves far worse. The fucking bastard should have died that day and not Hallie.

Hallie... just saying her name bring me to my knees. the pain of losing her has not lessened. in fact the pain has just grown stronger. I miss her terribly and i don't think i could ever stop. It hasn't gotten any easier. Ty and Michy miss her terribly as well. Ty still cries for her in his sleep and not even my comfort can bring him peace and lessen the longing and grief he feels over losing his mom.

I closed my eyes. Took a deep breath.

"Sir," Jerry said, interrupting my
thoughts.

I looked around and found that we have arrived.

I grabbed the flowers beside me and stepped out of my car.

I walked and tried to ignore the security around me. we've added security for the family. We just never know what Marcus could pull. With such publicity going around his case and the way my family is connected, we can't be certain what other enemies are lurking around us.

"You can wait here," I ordered, leaving no room for argument. I need some privacy and they can watch me from a few feet away.

I ran my fingers through her name and placed the flowers on top of her headstone.

"Hi sweetheart. I miss you," my voice cracked as i could no longer contain my emotion. "i'm sorry. i know I keep saying that the next time I visit I would no longer cry, but I can't help it. I know it's been months, but I still miss you. I still long for
you and grieve for you...." I said tearfully. I took a deep breath as I tried to change my tone. "Ty has officially called me daddy! Did i tell you that?" I said in a chuckle. "You already know don't you. Of course you do, I just told you yesterday," I smiled. "Michy's got it in her head that cookie is the only thing she likes, so i'm having trouble getting her to eat, but Katie seemed to know what to do so she's been helping me out a lot," I said. "i know. I know, it's my own fault for not being able to say no to her," I laughed. "Our little cookie monster... she's got me wrapped around her finger and she knows it. She has me eating out of the palm her hands. How could I not. she has your eyes. One look from her and I'm putty in her hands," I chuckled. "But don't worry, I know I have to be tough. I promise i'm working on it, so don't go giving me a stink eye."

My smile turned to tears. I went down on one knee and leaned on my other as I placed my hand on her headstone. "I miss you so much. I wish you were here, so you can scold me and tell me that I'm spoiling them," I paused and swallowed the lump in my throat. "I just... I want to hear your voice again. I'd give anything to hear our voice again," I breathed. "Baby, it still hurts so much," I sobbed.

It took me a few moments to get myself
together. When I did, I ran my fingers across her name one last time and closed my eyes.

"I love you, sweetheart. I'll see you tomorrow."

Marcus

"I'm paying you a ton of money, so I expect results!" I growled at my lawyer.

"I understand, but with the crimes you're charged with. Bail is out of the question," he explained.

I clenched my fist.

"And the other job I asked you to do?"

"Now is not the time. All eyes are in you. If we do this now..." he trailed off.

"Fuck! You expect me to take this sitting down?"

"No, but you're paying me to get you out of jail, and I'm telling you that what you're asking me to do is not going to do that. You need to be patient. Your hearing starts next week."

I don't like what he's saying but fuck. i do need to be patient. Once all charges are dismissed then I can fucking every fucking one who has betrayed me. I touched my scarred face.

Soon. I''m coming for fucking all of you.

"Have you figured out who this star witness is?"

"No, but I'm working on it."

"You better have a name by the time my trial starts," I said.

As I'm taken back to my cell, I couldn't stop thinking about this witness. Fuck.

Whoever the fuck he or she is, I smirked.

"You just signed your death sentence," I growled.

Damien

Seeing him come in court in shackles is somewhat of a satisfaction. He's restrained like the animal that he is. Half of his face is distorted from the burns he sustained from the explosion.

He got off easy. The fucking animal.

My mom squeezed my hand.

I squeezed her hand in return and nodded.

We are all here today and we will
all be here everyday throughout this whole trial.

He looked my way and smirked. It took all off me to wipe that smug look on his face by pounding him.

I watched him. His every move up to the front where he sat facing the judge.

"Will the defendant rise," the judge began.

I didn't hear the rest of what he said, the next thing I know, the first witness was being called and sworn in.

It was one of Marcus' men. I saw his body tense with anger.

The man answered question after question and detailed everything that he knew and every crime he was a part of.

I looked over to Marcus and I just can't believe people like him exists. How can you be human? How can a person commit such crimes. It made me
think back to the Rivera brothers.

To everyone who has hurt my family. The man who abused my Aunt Liv. The man who beat and killed my Uncle Marcos' sister.

I shook my head.

Then it was the defence turn to question the witness and the gal of him. How he tried to twist everything and tried to make Marcus look innocent and as much a victim as his victims were.

I can't take this anymore. I felt too angry. Too pissed off.  All these questions came running in my mind. What if hers squirted? What if the jury buys this bullshit? What if they feel sorry for him because of the burns he sustained?

I suddenly felt trouble breathing.

"Damien," my mom said softly.

I looked at her.

She squeezed my hand once again as a lone tear escaped my eye.

"It's okay. It will be okay. He won't get away with this," she said, as if she has read my mind. "We'll win. We'll get justice."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

In the two next weeks to come, I had to work hard at restraining myself. At reigning in my anger and frustration with how this trial is going. I have to admit the bastard has a good defence lawyer. I would look at the jury and I would feel the frustration at seeing some of their faces as they consider the defence arguments. I could tell some of them are buying it. How? How the fuck do I know? I just can't fucking believe it?

Is it because the men who have testified are criminals? But fucking hell, they're criminals who worked for Marcus.

I shook my head.

Today marks the defence first day at calling their own witnesses. As I sit here, I can't help but wish all of this to be over.

"Your honour, at this time we would like to
call another witness," the state attorney said.

Shock and surprised filled me as the defence voiced out their objection. 

"You honour, this witness was put into protective custody as his life was greatly in danger. We feared that his life would be in grave danger if his name
surfaced. Knowing his connection to the accused, it was necessary to keep his identity a secret."

"Your honour, this is clearly a tactic to derail my clients chances at proving his innocence. It is a clear violation of my clients rights and a violation of discovery," he defended.

"Councillors, my chambers. Now," the judge said, clearly not happy with the turn of events.

"What the fuck is going on," Dave said.

I shook my head. "I don't know."

I continued to sit there wondering. In a daze. I don't know how long it took, but the next thing I know I hear a loud bang and the judge is back.

"After discussion and reviewing the importance of this witness to this case, I have decided to allow the state to call its witness," she ruled.

"Your honour at this time, we would like to call Vin Mendes to the stand."

I froze.

Vin?

He's alive?

The doors open and there he is.

"Did you know about this?" I heard Allan ask.

"Damien?" I hear Dave. "Damien?"

Vin glanced around and his gaze found me.

He looked at me for a few seconds before turning away.

How?

Hallie... he was with Hallie, he was taking her away.

I....

Confusion surrounded me. I suddenly
felt like I was being choked. I stood up and left. I needed to get out of there.

I heard hurried steps following me, but I didn't stop. Then a voice was calling me and I still didn't stop. I didn't stop until I was outside.

I loosened my tie even more.

"Damien, are you okay?" It was Nate.

"How?" was all I asked.

"I don't know," he said. "But i'm going to find out," he assured me.

"Hallie..."

"I know," he said. "I know."

*****

Hope you are all safe and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

What do you think is going to happen next?

Now that we know Vin is alive, will he be able
to answer questions about Hallie?

Is she alive or dead?

Leave me your thoughts and comments below.