✍︎ 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐌𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐃 [dark mafia romance] | 𝟏𝟖+

| 25 | 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄

The large room was bustling with law enforcement personnel and unfamiliar jurors.

We sat in the front row on the left side and watched Aurora's fearful march forward. She sat next to her attorney, who gave her a reassuring smile.

After that, the woman shifted in her chair and turned to us.

"Given the current situation," the woman glanced at Sophia, "I believe you have a lot of questions. According to legal statutes, we are not required to gather a mountain of evidence to prove the circumstances of the rape."

We exchanged puzzled looks, frowning – during our meetings, the woman spoke differently.

"The sole testimony of Gabriella Fotos and the footage from the security cameras are more than enough evidence to prove our statement. Collaborating with the hospital where Aurora was taken, we received confirmation that when a swab was taken from the girl, it was confirmed she, indeed, had been raped."

Uncle cleared his throat, and Sophia breathed a sigh of relief, squeezing my hand.

"Do you know what punishment awaits that man?"

The attorney shook her head.

"It's complicated. Aurora is not yet twenty-one, so it's hard to say."

The conversation was interrupted by the creaking of the courtroom doors. As two police officers entered, leading a handcuffed man, Aurora quickly turned her gaze away. I leaned over the bench partition to touch her shoulder. She looked at me with sad eyes but didn't flinch from the touch.

The man, escorted by the officers, smiled with a twisted grin and licked his lips. Watching his demeanor, I felt the hairs on Aurora's back stand up. He was brought to the opposite side of the room, yet the man continued to smile. Next to him, an older man in a blue suit appeared. He scrutinized us with a sharp look, raising his eyebrows when he saw Aurora.

Apollo struggled to control himself upon seeing the man who violated his daughter. He sat gripping the edge of the bench with clenched fists, trembling. Adam stared blankly at the judge's empty chair. Mom and Aurora's attorney talked about the trial process.

When I heard the subtext "moral damage, compensation," I was horrified.

Forget about me - how should Aurora feel hearing such words?

The only logical explanation for my mother's question was right before my eyes. The contract signed by my uncle and her with the D'Angelo family required the transfer of significant property. Now, practically all the income from his hotel goes to Leonardo D'Angelo.

It seemed money had never been more necessary. It was painful to admit that, due to uncertain circumstances and for my safety, the family had to resort to their last resources.