Highest Bidder Collection - Lauren Landish Page 0,338

just as she was on the stage at the auction. Accepting her fate.

“She’s involved with an individual with enough money and means, and reason might I add, to carry her out of the country.” My heart sinks in my chest. No. No. They can’t keep her.

“The charges against my client, make it clear that no one else is in danger of-” my attorney rebuts.

“She confessed to murder,” the prosecution cuts off my attorney.

“What was said is inadmissible, she was under duress at the time and the prosecution is well aware of the circumstances.”

“I did it!” The words are ripped from my throat as I stand there, staring at the judge. I can feel her eyes on me as I step out into the aisle, finally letting go of the bench.

My father reaches for me, grabbing my arm and shoving his hand over my mouth. I turn in his grasp and land my fist against his jaw, the stinging pain ringing through my numb body.

“Zander,” my father looks back at me with his hand over his jaw. There's a bit of blood covering his teeth and spilling out onto his hand. His face isn’t one of anger, there’s no hate. His expression is simply one of denial.

“I shot Daniel Brooks twice.” I turn and face the judge, only then aware of the sounds of the people around me and the flash of a camera.

“Zander, no!” Arianna’s soft voice travels to me, her words full of pain. I close my eyes, ignoring her plea. She never should have tried to pull this shit. I won’t let her. I swallow thickly and continue.

“I came to his home and saw the defendant there. I knew she was there.” My father tries to cut me off, but I continue. “I came with my gun and I shot him.” The words leave my hollow chest, each one ripping and clawing at my throat on the way out, begging to take the memories with them. “I killed him, and I’d do it again.”

“This is a stunt, your Honor,” the prosecution calls out, his voice high and carrying an air of disbelief.

I catch sight of my attorney but she’s looking at my father, her lips pressed together.

Through all the banging of the gavel, the chatter of the people behind me, the attorneys arguing and judge speaking over everyone, all I can hear is Arianna. “Zander, no,” and her small cry breaks my heart.

I hear the footsteps of the cop’s shoes against the thin carpet of the courtroom before his hands are on me.

Chapter 34

Arianna

“You’re a free woman, Miss Owens,” Dana tells me as we pull up to my shared apartment with Natalie, the smooth hum of the Mercedes engine running.

Her words bring me no joy. I don’t want to be free. I shouldn’t be here.

I suck in a sharp breath as Zander’s words ring in my mind. I did it! I shot Daniel Brooks twice.

I shake my head at the memory, filled with despair. He should’ve kept quiet. He should’ve let me take the fall.

Seeing him dragged from the courtroom nearly brought me to my knees.

Noting the anguish on my face, Dana gently pats me on the knee. “That’s a brave thing you did, trying to take the fall for Mr. Payne.”

I make a face. “Brave? Or stupid?” The question is rhetorical. What I did wasn’t smart, but smart doesn't matter in this case.

A wistful, empathetic expression comes over Dana. “I think we’ve all done something not so wise in the name of love, Miss Owens.”

I inhale deeply at the word love. It’s true. And something I’ve known for a while now. I love Zander. And I don’t want to see him rot in a jail cell on my behalf no matter what he did.

“Don’t worry,” Dana assures me at my distant, pained expression. “Everything is going to work out fine.”

“Do you think so?” I ask, feeling a small glimmer of hope.

Dana gives me a confident nod. “Mr. Payne is a resourceful man. And so is his father. If anyone can figure a way out of this mess, they can.”

I know she’s trying to comfort me, but she can’t know that for sure. Zander committed murder. Even confessed to it. I want to believe that things are going to be okay, but right now, I’m not seeing a way out.

“Thank you,” I say to Dana, giving a nod and flashing a weak smile. “I really appreciate all your help.”

“You’re very welcome, Miss Owens,” Dana replies. “Take care.”

I open