The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY novel Chapter 33

Chapter 2

Vincent raised his hand. Every man behind me stood, guns drawn.

I stared across the table at Cade.

“So that’s it? You’re choosing her?”

“Everything you are? I built that. Don’t forget it.”

He flinched. For a second, he looked like he might actually feel bad about it.

Then he looked up.

“San, she doesn’t know any better. Let her go this once. I swear she won’t come near you again.”

Years ago, a rival crew broke three of his ribs. He took every hit without a sound. Didn’t beg. Didn’t break.

Now he was begging for her.

My chest went tight. Felt like taking a knife to the chest. Clean through.

My eyes dropped to the pendant around his neck–the jade piece I’d carved for Evan’s tenth birthday.

After Evan died, Cade wore it like armor. Said it made him feel like his brother was still with him.

He never took it off.

Guess that changed.

Vincent moved to give the order. I stopped him.

“Let them go.”

Cade’s shoulders sagged.

“Thank you. I’ll explain everything–whatever punishment you want-”

“Don’t.” My voice was flat. “From now on, you’re done with the Winters family. Next time we meet, we’re enemies.”

He stopped.

Then the girl whimpered in his arms, and he kept walking.

Vincent was shaking. “Miss Winters, we can’t let that bastard walk! He’s nothing without you-”

14:21 C

The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

26.7%

Chapter 2

I turned toward the window.

“Evan died saving him. I’ll let him walk. This once.”

Mercy was a mistake.

A few days later, my phone buzzed.

[Surprise, bitch. Cade fixed my hand.]

[He says I’m a natural pianist. You? Just a cripple who’ll never measure up.]

Photos followed. Then a video.

I stared at her restored hand.

When my hand was ruined, Cade searched everywhere. Every surgeon said the same thing: irreversible.

Except one.

Dr. Felix Crane-“The Fixer.”

He could’ve restored my hand. But his price was brutal: Cade’s mother’s bracelet and the ten docks he’d nearly died

for.

That bracelet was all he had left of her. Those docks had cost him blood.

I watched him sit there, silent, torn apart by the choice.

Finally, I cut him off.

“Forget it. We’re not doing this.”

He looked at me. Then pulled me close.

“You don’t need piano. Guns suit you better.”

Now in the video, Cade didn’t hesitate.

“She’s a born pianist. She has to play. Name your price–I’lly it.”

Ping.

Another message. A pregnancy test.

[So what if you ruined my hand? I’m healed. And pregnant.)

14:21

The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

26.9%

Chapter 2

[Cade says everything he has–everything?you?have–goes to my son.]

[And you? You’re poison. Everyone you touch dies. Your parents. Your brother. You’ll rot alone, just like you deserve.]

I typed back.

[Congratulations.]

An hour later, I sent Cade a gift.

He’d recognize immediately what was inside.

(0)

(0)

27.29%