Behind the Mask

Chapter 56

Corey's POV

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," I grumbled as I read the latest report from Officer Kline.

"Solnechnyy svet, what's wrong?" Raven asked, placing a kiss on my forehead.

I threw the report on the table, "This." Raven's face darkened as he read the documents.

"Eto der'mo! Kak oni mogut govorit', chto ona zamuzhem za etim ublyudkom? On byl poddelan, zapisi dokazyvayut eto! YA, blyad', ub'yu yego! (This is horseshit! How can they say she is married to that bastard? It was forged, the tapes prove it! I'll fucking kill him!), he raged.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, "I'm beginning to think the Academy is behind all of this. Maybe they own the judge in the case or some of the cops?" I was beginning to think this disaster would never end. She'd been devastated to learn about her mother's murder, then seemed to improve at the thought of the wedding, but then we had to postpone because of the forged documents. The courts wouldn't even let her get a divorce until the legal matters had been resolved. So she and the rest of us were caught in a type of limbo.

"We need to tell her," Raven said finally. I nodded and we walked toward the front room. I smiled when I saw Marissa with tinsel in her hair as she threw some at Gabe and Luke. "Malen'kaya shalun'ya, why are you decorating Gabe and Luke?"

She stopped and looked at us innocently, "Um, would you believe the bag exploded?"

Raven chuckled, "Neyt, love."

She crawled over toward us with a bag in her hand, then giggled. I saw the look in her eyes and ducked behind Raven as she threw a handful of silver tinsel at his head. "Now, you're a Yule tree, Bear!" she tittered, rolling on the floor with laughter. He playfully growled and dropped to the floor, tickling her until she begged, "Mercy, mercy, oh damn, gotta pee!" She quickly scurried out of the room as we all laughed.

"I'm guessing you didn't fucking come to help decorate," Gabe said, cleaning up fallen tinsel. I shook my head. "I'll grab the others," he said and left the room.

After a few minutes, the room was filled with our family and Marissa sat in Sean's lap, sipping a cup of cider. "Okay, what now?" she asked bluntly. I stammered. "No one calls a family meeting for good news anymore," she sighed, "It's all drama and stupid police stuff, so don't sugar-coat it, DM."

"The cops claim the marriage is valid and won't go forward," I said, putting the paperwork on the table. She drew in a sharp breath and stared at the pages, but didn't touch them. "Marissa, are you okay?"

Her eyes snapped up. They were cold, closed off. "What is the status of my father's case?"

"He and Chloe have been charged in your mother's death, but no charges have been made in New York concerning your kidnapping or rape," Axel explained.

"When does their trial start?"

"January third," he replied.

"Then I guess we are headed to Texas," she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Sweetheart, are you sure that's a good idea?" Sean asked, his hand going to her stomach.

She bristled, "I'm pregnant, not terminally ill, Sean. I need to see this through. I may not be able to get justice for myself, but by the gods, I'll see that my mother gets hers." She looked at all of us, "I need your expertise, gentlemen. I no longer have control of my company, but I do have my name to fall back on. I need to issue a press release about the change of hands at G&R. My clients should be aware that I've been shut out. Then I need to set up shop somewhere else for now. Corey, you need to pull all of the footage from the past eight years at the company - all audio, video, anything. Your contract was with me and Winston. Jackson has no right to those files. Then I want you to lock it down. The only reason they should be opened is for a court order and even that I'll fight unless it helps my case. Owen, I need your family to file suit for breach of contract. You stipulated that I must be involved in the day-to-day of the contract, and now that can't happen. Kota, you need to check all the financials since I've been gone and then double-check them. If you find so much as one penny missing, seek embezzlement charges against the firm unilaterally - that gets both Jackson and my father." She gave her list of requests without even breaking a sweat or raising her voice. I'm a fucking powerdom, but right now I'm intimidated by her.