Defendants with Cameron Dallas

Chapter 3

"I...Can't...Do it." My voice was shaky as I struggled to speak. My hands trembled as I tried to keep a hold on the tissue I was using to try to preserve the makeup on my face.

Cameron ran his hand up and down my back. "You've got this." He kissed me lightly on the cheek. "You're a strong person, you can face her."

I shook my head violently. "How am I supposed to look at her and talk about what he had told me about her trying to kill him before?" I wailed.

"Then look at me." Cameron pulled me into his lap. "You can do this."

I rested my head on his chest. "I just want it to be over." I mumbled.

"It's been a hard week yes, but you can make it." He kissed my hand. "Just remember she can't hurt you."

I nodded.

"Ok, so are you ready?"

I nodded again and stood up slowly.

Cameron took my hand in his and cracked a small smile. "Just pretend she's not even in the room."

I took a deep breath. "Ok." I tucked a loose curl back behind my ear. I began walking out of the empty meeting room.

Fear tugged on every nerve in my body. She's not there. She's not there. I tried to convince myself. It didn't work.

Our lawyer stood waiting outside of the courtroom door. "How's she doing?" His eyes were full of worry.

"She's good." Cameron squeezed my hand. "Right, Kate?"

I snapped back to the here and now. "Mmmm." I mumbled. "I'll make it." I managed to get out without faltering.

"Good." He checked his watch. "Now I managed to convince the courthouse to hold the press until you two got in but..."

"But what?" Cameron's voice rose slightly.

"But, the lottery winners are already in there."

I let out a little breath. "It could be worse I guess." I chuckled nervously.

Our lawyer swung the door open and motioned for Cameron and me to enter. "Don't be too nervous, the jury will believe you."

That was good to know but the jury believing me was the least of my concerns. We had been coming to this courtroom every day for six hours for the last week. That was nearly the equivalent of two full days that I had sat in a room just ten feet from Hannah.

That was two days where I had to sit in a room with the person who had threatened my life so many times. Hannah had traumatized me in so many ways and I don't think I could ever get to a point in which my heart wouldn't race when I'm around her. I don't think I will get to a point in which I can sleep at night until she is locked away for the rest of her days.

I tucked my skirt under myself as I took a seat in my chair on the prosecution side. I took a few deep breaths and tried to steady my shaking hands.

I looked over my shoulder as the doors in the back of the courtroom swung open.

Thankfully the amount of media representatives had lessened over the course of the week but there was still four video cameras and maybe half a dozen or so reporters with cameras.

"You've got this." Cameron rubbed my back.

I nodded. Suddenly I heard a door knob turn at the front of the courtroom. I whipped my head around.

Hannah sauntered in. She was wearing a baby blue dress and white pumps. She made a point to make her wedding ring very visible to me.

It was things like that that prevented me from ever being able to relax. She was purposefully trying to mess with my head.

It worked. I turned to Cameron, my eyes filling with tears. "I can't do this." I whispered.

He took my hands in his. "Yes, you can." He kissed my fingers and rubbed his thumb on my ring. "Don't let her get into your head."

I dabbed my eyes with a tissue from the box on the table and tried to relax. All I could think about was that stupid marriage certificate.

I felt so guilty about that. I had traded the love of my life to a crazy girl for what? Books, clothes, and some Tylenol?

But then I remembered that day, the day of the wedding. I remembered the feeling I had felt when our eyes locked as I walked down the aisle before Hannah. I remembered seeing the tears of joy in his eyes.

I tried to lock my mind on those few minutes. Maybe there'd be a day for us to experience the joy of getting married but there was so much ahead of that. After all, Cameron was still legally married to Hannah.

"I'd like to call Kate to the stand to testify."

I shook as I snapped back into the present. I stood up and proceeded to the stand. I took a ragged breath as I settled in the chair next to the judge.

"You've got this." He said softly.

I nodded. My eyes sunk to my lap.

"Kate, would you agree that you grew close to Hannah's father over the course of your time in captivity?"

"Yes, sir, I would agree with that statement."

"What was his role in your life during that time?"

"Well he would usually be the one to take me to get food or transport me to wherever Hannah wanted me to be."

"Would he talk to you during these transports?"

"Yes."

"What would you talk about?"

"He would usually tell me to try to lay low, just do what I could to follow Hannah's rules."

"Was there anything he revealed to you during these talks?"

"Yes." "He showed me a large scar on his shoulder where Hannah had stabbed him with the intent of leaving him to bleed out."

"And why did she not kill him in her original attempt?"

"Well she wanted him to help her kidnap Cameron and she realized she couldn't do it alone so she made sure he lived."

"So this murder attempt was a sort of intimidation tactic?"

"Yes sir."

"Was there anything else he revealed to you about the defendant?"

"Yes." "Hannah became obsessed with Cameron nearly four years before she kidnapped us and she had been preparing for the kidnapping for two years before she actually went through with it and took us from the LA club." "She tried to kill her father two years before she kidnapped us and it was then that he began helping her build the prison she would eventually keep us in."

"Two years, members of the jury." "Hannah had already made it clear that she would kill her father for not doing as she wished." "She premeditated this murder, and I believe she should be convicted and sentenced as so." Our lawyer turned to me. "Thank you Miss Kate that is all I have for you."

I nodded and left the stand to head back for my seat. I sat back down next to Cameron.

"See, you just had to look at me the whole time and you did it."

I squeezed his hand and turned to face Hannah.

She glared at me before turning to face the front of the room.

"We'll win." I said to Cameron.

"Yes we will."