Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
“Some of us …” Aspen mutters, and Penelope grabs her hand in solidarity.
Atlas casually walks in with his hands in his pockets, and both Xavier and I look up at him.
“Where’ve you been?” his mom, Crystal, asks. “I texted you half an hour ago that it was time.”
“Sorry. I got caught up.”
I narrow my eyes at him as he sits down beside me. “Right … you sure you weren’t getting drunk with some girls at an after-party?”
He just smirks at me. “No, of course not. I’ve been busy studying.”
I lean in to whisper, “Is that why you suddenly disappeared after the wedding situation?”
He just throws me a weird look.
“I went inside the venue and calmed some guests who got suspicious after José didn’t come back, and there was a lot of noise,” he whispers back. “Otherwise, they would’ve found us.”
Hmm. Guess he was more helpful than I thought.
“Thanks,” I reply.
“No need. I fucked up before. Had to make up for my mistake.”
The doors to the courtroom open, and Sunny’s mother clears her throat. “It’s time.”
The moment she’s brought into the room by the guards while in chains feels unreal. Everyone’s looking at her and taking pictures like she’s some wild animal they caught.
They don’t realize how valuable she is, how special. And how much it would hurt this world if they locked her away.
She cleaned this precious soil of the filth that tried to run all over it. They should be grateful she took care of their dirty work.
“Where the hell is Atreus?” Xavier hisses at me.
I rub my lips together to try to stave off the nerves. “I don’t know.”
“He said he’d fucking help!” he whisper-yells.
Right before she’s scheduled to go on the stand, Atreus suddenly enters the courtroom with none other than José Martínez, who casually strolls toward the front, while Atreus winks as he passes us.
What the hell is going on?
Both the defense and the prosecutors approach the judge, and there are some heavy talks, before both return to their seats.
“Very well. I’ll allow for Mr. José Martínez to take the stand first.”
The man saunters toward his seat and flops down, sighing out loud, as he looks over the courtroom before settling his eyes on Atreus, who nods at him.
“I am here because I wish to confess the murders of Mike Smith, Carlo Ferreira, Paul Lockley, Jimmy Farrell, Perry Jones, and Bob Eizenheimer.”
And the entire room erupts into audible gasps, me included.
CHAPTER 47
Xavier
Everyone’s hanging on José’s lips. “I forced Sunny Reed to kiss the men in question after I butchered them in front of her.”
I can’t believe what’s happening right now.
“And I threatened both her and her loved ones if she did not comply.”
“What about Bob Eizenheimer?” the prosecution asks.
“Bob tried to arrest me. I stopped him.”
“Mr. Martínez, why are you doing this?” the judge asks.
“Because she refuses to love me, even now. And I am tired of these games.”
More gasps follow, and Sunny just stares at him with furrowed brows.
Is she in on this?
The defense approaches for questioning. “Why did you make her watch?”
“Because they were her lovers or friends, and she gave them more attention than she ever gave me,” José says nonchalantly.
“So this was all an act of jealousy?”
“Correct.”
I’m baffled. Absolutely baffled.
“And Sunny Reed took no part in any of the killings or torture?”
“None,” José lies.
Why would he lie for her? Do they know each other?
“Mr. Friedrich, please approach,” the judge tells the prosecution.
More mumbling happens behind the scenes that we’re not privy to, and I hate how I have no clue what’s going to happen, but if it can get Sunny out of this mess, I’m all for it.
“All right,” the judge says, as the room is cleared again. “Trial will be rescheduled for Mr. Martínez. Sunny Reed is free to go. Please clear the courtroom. Thank you.”
The gavel is swung, and I can barely contain my happiness as I spring up from my seat.
Sunny is free.
Sunny
I exit the room and am immediately bombarded by too many hugs. My body is getting squished to smithereens from my family huddling up to wrap their arms around me, and it fills me with a kind of warmth I didn’t know I could even feel.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Mom says.
“I’m happy my baby is safe,” Dad says, kissing me on the forehead.
“I’m not a baby,” I grumble.
“You’re our baby and always will be,” Mom reiterates, hugging me so tightly I can barely breathe.
“I don’t know what just happened, but as long as you’re free, I’m not complaining,” Levi says, hugging me too.
“Sis, I hope prison wasn’t too rough on you,” Elliot mutters, leaning in for a quick hug.
“I’m just glad you’re out,” Max says.
“But you did kill them, right?” Silas winks at me from a distance.
I shrug. “I guess we’ll never know.”
My dad narrows his eyes at me. “Sunny...”