A Selfish Kind Of Love

We Settled

~Rayne's POV

"Another meeting with your lawyer?" I grumble softly, as I was awakened by Michael rustling out of the bed.

"Yeah. I'm telling you Ray.. This is killing me. I can't keep doing this every morning." He sits on the edge, burying his tired eyes in his hands.

I cover myself and sit up, placing a hand on his back. "I know you're tired baby. I wish I could help somehow." I lean my cheek on his back. He sighs again before standing to walk into the bathroom.

"I'm thinking of just settling the case." He says.

"Well why not? Just get it over with." I responded

"My lawyers don't think it would be a good idea. They say it looks like I have something to hide." He rolls his eyes. "But I think I'm just gonna settle."

"Think of it this way, if someone touched Camille, the way Audrey claims you touched Malik. Would you take a settlement?" I ask

"God no, I'd want them to get help. They need help, it's clear they're sick." He says in disgust.

"Not the route I'd choose, but.. You wouldn't take the money. I say offer the money, if Audrey takes it, everyone will know she's lying." I shrug. "I don't know one parent that would allow their child to get molested and take money to make it better. If that happened to my baby girl, I'd want them to rot in the deepest darkest prison." I continued.

"I see what you're saying." He nods, closing the bathroom door behind him.

I laid back down and thought about our conversation. I couldn't imagine anyone hurting my little one like that. Honestly, I'd want them dead. Not just for my child, but for other children. Now unable to fall back asleep, I turn on the television. "Hey Mike, Latoya's on TV."

"I cannot and will not stand by and watch my brother get away with these crimes he has committed on these children. I've seen checks written to the families of these kids..."

"FUCK!!" Michael yells, tossing his shirt to the ground. I've never heard Michael so angry to the point he curses. I close our room door so he doesn't wake Camille or if she is awake, she won't hear any other swear words to emulate later.

"My sister is a fucking idiot. She's letting Jack control her! She's brainwashed!" He says pacing. "Just like that piece of shit book she wrote. Joseph never touched her! She does things for attention, we all know it. FUCK! I definitely can't settle now! She just ruined everything!"

He was right, he couldn't settle without looking suspicious. I simply sighed, there were no words to calm him down. He was rightfully upset.

"Rayne, this could go to trial. I could go to jail! This is serious!" He says in a worrisome tone.

"Don't think like that." I say. "You're not going to jail. You're gonna be here with me and Camille. Yes, Latoya said some really stupid things, but don't let that hold you back... Ok?"

He nods quietly and continues to get dressed in silence.

"Maybe we should spend some time together, go on a date? It'll give you and I a break from being parents and you can just breathe for a moment. Ok? Once you come home, we're going out. We'll take buggy to my dads."

He releases a long sigh before nodding and saying "I love you." He leans down to kiss me before heading out.

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