Temporary ✔️

Chapter 23: The trial

AN: here's chapter 23. Enjoy, people.

I'd written this chapter out, but the system glitched and it got deleted 😢 - that's why the update is a bit late!

In case you guys forgot, Maddie and Dean are Lexi's friends from school and Dean is Ace's stepbrother.

Third person's POV: (three weeks later)

Tensions were high in the DeLesco-DeLaCruz house.

Three weeks ago, they'd introduced Violet and Jackson to their lawyer- a smart, blonde woman with blue eyes and a fierce attitude. Lavinia had reassured them that she'd win their case and put Connor behind bars. And based on her track record, she had a high chance of being right.

So why were they all so tense?

The problem lies with Noah and Violet.

Whenever they were in the same room together, it would always end up in a fight. One time, Violet threw a glass vase at his head. She missed, but Antonio and Flynn decided it would be best if the two of them didn't see each other until the trial.

Currently, however, Lexi was perched on her bed, staring at her phone screen in horror at the texts she received.

"Hey, Lex, you ready to go?" Ryan asked, startling her out of her thoughts. He noticed her distressed expression. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." She dismissed, putting her phone in her pocket and shoving her thoughts deep down.

Ryan knew instantly that she was lying, but presumed she was just worried about her friend. He decided not to press further, knowing that Lexi would come to him if she needed help. Or so he thought.

They went downstairs to the car. They first picked up Violet and Jackson, then headed over to the trial.

Noah was wracked with guilt as Violet sat next to him. It was painfully obvious how she leaned away. He wished he could take back everything he'd done, but it was too late now.

Soon the car rolled up in front of the courthouse. Inside, many people had come- including a lot of media. Conner's colleagues were present as well- they jeered at Violet and Jackson as they walked past. Some of them even had the audacity to wolf-whistle at Violet and Lexi.

"Ignore them." Lexi hissed Jack tensed, murder evident on his and the other mens' minds. "They're doing this to get a rise outta you."

"Fine." Thomas growled. "But if they don't stop looking at you both like that, I won't hesitate to beat them up."

"I'm used to it." Slipped out of both their mouths in unison. They froze and looked at each other, understanding passed between them. The others looked sadly at the two of them.

Soon, the trial started.

X

"The court declares Connor Vernodi guilty of child abuse, drug and human trafficking and murder." The judge announced. "He will be sentenced to life imprisonment and Jackson Ferlando shall be passed to his sister's custody. The court is adjourned." She banged her gavel and the room erupted into loud cheers.

"Thank you." Violet whispered, hugging her lawyer tightly.

"No problem." She smiled, "I'm just happy to help. Now go celebrate."

"We won!" Jackson shouted in disbelief. "We actually won." His nightmare was finally over.

"OH MY GOD!" Maddie squealed, hugging Jackson tightly. Tears slipped from her eyes as she remembered the many nights she'd spent stitching her friend up.

She'd begged him to go to the police, but he'd vehemently refused- fearing that they wouldn't believe him or that he'd be separated from his sister. Instead, she and Dean secretly began collecting evidence, hoping to one day put Connor behind bars. In fact, it was this evidence that ensured he was.

"I'LL BE BACK FOR YOU!" Connor screamed, practically foaming at the mouth as he was hauled away.

Suddenly, Maddie sprinted to him and punched his face then kneed him in the soft spot. Connor went down like a sack of potatoes, all bravado sucked out of him.

"No you won't." Maddie snarled, walking away.

People laughed and came up to congratulate the Ferlando siblings. Almost everyone was happy that a sick man had been put away in jail.

"Lexi!" Jackson called, walking over to her. He engulfed her in a warm, tight embrace. "Thank you, so much." He whispered in her ear, kissing her cheek.

She smiled and pulled away, happy to have given someone the justice she never could get for herself. "You're welcome, Jackson."

He grinned, but it faltered slightly. How had he never noticed how pretty Lexi looked when she smiled? Or how her eyes twinkled when she-

"Pack it up, Romeo." A voice- Sam- hissed in his ear. "That's my sister you're looking at."

Jackson flushed slightly and looked away, snapped out of his stupor. Violet was ecstatic and hugged her little brother tightly.

"We won!" She shouted joyfully. She let go and hugged Noah. "We won!"

He laughed and hugged her back. But then the two of them realised what they were doing and broke away quickly. Their animosity has disappeared slightly, and they made a silent agreement to talk afterwards.

Lexi quietly slipped away from the commotion, crossing the street to the little corner shop. She
pushed the door opened and went to the drinks aisle, picking up a bottle of water.

"Well, well, well."

Lexi groaned and threw her head back. "What the hell?! Can't you cut me a break?"

"No little Lexi!" Isla giggled, a high pitched sound that could probably break glass. "You stole everything from us- so we're gonna do the same to you!"

"Okay, okay." Lexi opened the bottle and downed more than half of it without paying- who knew when she'd get a drink again? "What, you track me to the store?"

"And payed the owner to let us kidnap you." Liam mumbled from behind his psycho wife.

"Fine." Lexi sighed, wiping her mouth. "But can we not to the cliche 'hit me over the head and knock me out' thing? It'll be pretty suspicious if you are dragging a teenage girl out of here." She paused. "Also, I'll wake up with a killer headache and I kinda want to avoid that."

"No can do, sunshine!" Isla laughed.

X

Once the commotion had died down a little bit, Ryan noticed that his sister was missing. "Guys, where's Lexi?"

Hayden looked around, his eyebrows furrowed. "I don't know... she was here a minute ago."

"Maybe she went to the bathroom or got something to drink?" Kyle suggested, but worry was gnawing at him inside.

A scream tore through the air, chilling everyone to the bone. They all rushed outside and to the shop opposite, hearts thudding wildly.

Lexi was fighting for her life, punching and jabbing at Liam and Isla. But in the end, she was becoming overpowered. Lexi screamed loudly, hoping someone would hear.

Her brothers burst through the shop, eyes wide at the sight before them. They immediately began taking out their guns.

"Ah, ah, ah." Isla smirked, pressing her silver gun to Lexi's temple. The younger girl stopped thrashing immediately. "I hate to use this weapon- it takes the fun out of kidnapping- but if you boys make one wrong move, I'll blow her brains out."

The DeLesco and DeLaCruz brothers froze instantly, hearts breaking at the fear in their sister's eyes. Even though Isla and Liam were vastly outnumbered, they knew the men wouldn't do anything that could harm Lexi.

"Let's go." Liam said gruffly, grabbing Lexi. Isla kept her gun firmly against Lexi and the three of them exited through the back door.

End of chapter 23.

I hope you guys liked it!

Stay safe and thanks for reading :)