The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY novel Chapter 39

Chapter 8

Cade snapped. He lunged at Vivienne, hands going straight for her throat.

Two of my men grabbed him mid–lunge and slammed him face–first into the floor.

I looked at Vivienne. Her face was twisted, eyes wild.

“Talk. And I’ll let you live.”

Vivienne clutched her broken arm, fumbling in her pocket with her good hand.

She pulled out a voice recorder. Pressed play.

“San Winters is such a fucking idiot. I cried a little, and she actually believed her brother saved me.”

“Her brother made noise trying to escape. The traffickers came back. So I blamed him. Told them it was all his fault. They killed him instead of me.”

Cade’s voice.

Now he thrashed against the men holding him down, arms wrenched behind his back.

“No–San! She’s lying! It’s all bullshit!”

Vivienne’s lips twisted into something ugly.

“Oh, it’s fake? Then what about the mausoleum at St. Michael’s Cemetery?”

Years ago, Cade started having nightmares. Said he kept seeing Evan’s face.

So he donated money to build a private mausoleum. Marble Expensive. Evan’s name carved in gold above the door.

Claimed a priest told him it would “give Evan peace.”

“San–that mausoleum is sealed with concrete. Three feet thik. You know why?”

She leaned forward, eyes glittering.

“Because he’s terrified. Terrified Evan’s ghost will come back and drag him to hell.”

My vision went white. I tasted copper. My knees buckled.

Felix caught me before I fell. Guided me to a chair.

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The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

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Chapter 8

He nodded to one of his men. The guy pulled out his phone, made a call.

Two minutes later, he came back. Whispered something in Felix’s ear.

His face went dark.

He walked slowly over to Cade.

Kicked him in the ribs.

“You animal. The Winters family saved your life. And this is how you repay them?”

He kicked him again. “I’m gonna make sure you suffer. Every. Single. Day.”

After the third kick, Cade stopped moving.

He just lay there, wheezing, blood pooling under his face.

But he still reached for me.

Fingers clawing at the air. Mouth forming words–please, please, please.

I stood. Walked over to him.

Hope flickered in his eyes.

Next second, I stepped on his hand. Felt the bones snap under my heel.

He screamed like an animal. Curled around his shattered hand, writhing on the floor.

I crouched down next to him. Let him see my face.

“I’m not going to kill you, Cade. I’m going to make you wish I had. You’re going to spend the rest of your life in prison, wishing you’d died with Evan.”

Sirens wailed in the distance. Getting closer.

I stood. Looked down at him one last time.

“Time to go.”

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