The Defendant ✧ (Bill Gambini x reader)

10.

"Breakfast!"

I sleepily stumbled out of the room with a loud yawn. "What time is it?" 

"Eight am" 

"Why are we up so early?" I murmured, taking a seat at the small wooden table. A plate of grits was placed in front of me, I held back a grimace. "It's our last day, we have lots to do!" Dad smiled brightly. "Lots as in fishing?" My eyebrow raised.

"Yes...Just eat your damn breakfast" he gave a light scoff before pulling out a cigarette and lighting it, I watched as he took a long draw before puffing out the smoke into the misty air. I poked at my grits with the fork, they were dad's favourite but not mine.

Before he could speak up, the phone rang. I took the opportunity to get away by answering it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Y/n! You're coming back today right?" Sydney's melodic voice filled my ears. "Hey Syd, yes we are! We leave in the afternoon" I chatted. I watched as dad smoked till the end before flicking the cigarette butt out of the window.

His heavy footsteps advanced towards the bathroom, the creak of the door signalled as it shut behind him. It was clear for me to speak. "I think I'm ready for court tomorrow, will you meet me on the steps?"

"Yeah sure, does your pops know?"

"Nope, we'll keep it that way"

She giggled "Fine fine, see you at two."

I had a bit of free time to iron my clothes, making sure they were ready for court. It wasn't anything fancy but it was presentable, I at least wanted to look good for Bill. "Ready for the last fishing catch?" Dad called out merrily. I smiled. "Ready for when you are."

---

The trunk door slammed shut before I watched dad climb into the driver's side. "I do enjoy cabins but home is where the heart is" he chuckled. The van engine roared to life, scaring a few birds in the trees. I went to speak when we heard a weird noise.

"What was that?" I asked curiously. 

"Hmm I'm not sure" he quickly got out and checked everything but nothing seemed too out of the ordinary, we were finally on our way. Just when I thought I was in luck, things hastily turned downhill.

The van started skidding about on the road, the ride turning bumpy. It was so bad that we had to pull over on the side. He climbed out to inspect the problem, I heard him muttering and cursing. "What's wrong?" I asked, joining him by the front.

"There's mud stuck in the tires" he grunted, I sighed. Alabama was known for its clay-like mud, the towns garage was often filled with muddied tires and annoyed locals complaining about it. "Well can't we just clean it?" I asked.

"Sure but I don't have any equipment on me. I'll have to call someone to tow the van. We might not even make it back home tonight" those words were the beginning of my nightmare.

"What do you mean?! We have to go home! You said!" I whined.

"Sorry munchkin, it looks like we'll be staying at a highway motel. Latest we get home could be the morning" he explained. Dad pulled out his cell phone, flipping it open before dialling a number.

As he spoke on the phone I stared at the van tires with hatred. 'Do not fuck me this up for me' I thought to myself. If I missed court, I could ruin Bill's life and that was the last thing I ever wanted.