Sinful Alliance: A Reverse Harem Story

Twenty-Nine

A brother was on either side of me with a hand on my thigh as we sat at the rear of the courtroom waiting to hear the jury's ruling. Crawford Blackburn stood with his lawyer behind the defendant's table dressed in an expensive suit looking like the cat that ate the canary; please don't let him get away with this any longer. "On the two counts of first-degree murder how do you find?" the judge asked.

"We find the defendant, Crawford Blackburn, guilty on all counts."

The CEO's smugness faded, and I let out a sigh of relief-finally. Both brothers gave my leg a reassuring squeeze. "The state of New York thanks you, you are dismissed," the older man continued to the jury and one of the court officers escorted the twelve jurors out then cleared his throat to deliver the sentence. "In light of the severity of this crime, the guilty ruling of the jury and the means you have at your disposal I am hereby sentencing you to life without parole in Sing-Sing Prison where you are to have no outside contact."

As he pounded the gavel, I felt the shadow that had hung over me for more than a decade dissipate. He was taken away and I stood to take my leave with my men when I heard someone calling my name. I could tell they both tensed as I turned to see a woman coming toward us; with her mousy brown hair, doe-eyes and child-like face I knew exactly who she was. "Sondra," I greeted with she stopped before us. Tears were making her eyes glisten as she looked at me.

"Ava, I am so sorry. I had no idea that my father would do something like this."

I gave her a sad smile then wrapped her in a gentle hug, petting the back of her head. "There is nothing you have to be sorry for."

"B-but if you hadn't gone to your father about what he'd done to me...."

I held her at arm's length. "Sondra, no one could have known what he would do, and I don't regret going to my father because it was the right thing to do."

We shared a hug before saying our good-byes and I watched her go. "Our Strong Girl," Silvano commented placing a kiss on my temple as Vartan's hand took mine. 

"Thank you both for coming with me," I sighed as we headed from the courthouse.

"We wouldn't have missed it for the world Baby," Vartan replied. 

"I have to run an errand before dinner," Silvano informed, and I nodded. He took me into his arms kissing me deeply before walking to his waiting SUV. He climbed into the back and the vehicle merged into traffic then Vartan took my hand leading me to his own vehicle.

"Any idea what his errand is?" I asked when he opened the passenger door for me. He shook his head as I climbed into my seat, and I raised an eyebrow watching him shut the door before walking around to the driver's side. 
___
The sun was starting to set causing the river and building windows to look like they were on fire when we pulled up behind Goddess Black. My gaze turned to Vartan as he put the SUV into park. "What are we doing here?"

He didn't respond, just gave me a smile before getting out. "C'mon Princess," he sighed when he opened my door. I let out a breath as I unbuckled and slipped out. He shut the door then took my hand so we could walk through the heavy metal door and up the stairs. "Why are we going to my old apartment?"

"You ask a lot of questions."

When the front door opened, I wasn't met with my old home instead everything had been cleared even the kitchen, so it was just an empty room. "Oh my God," I whispered as my eyes took in all of the paintings that hung on the walls- they were my mother's alongside the ones I had sold while in France. 

"I hope that means you like it," Silvano commented coming from what was my bedroom. 

"H-how did you get my paintings?" I asked and he smiled slyly. 

"When I found out where you were I also found out that you started painting so I tracked down all of them so they could hang alongside your mother's, and you could have you own personal gallery."

I hugged him as tears started to blur my vision. "Thank you," I whispered as he wrapped his arms around me kissing my head. I looked toward Vartan and held out a hand which he took. "Thank you both, for everything."