Chapter 0356

Predictably, the courtroom is packed with journalists and other members of the press. Kent has

known for a long time that he’s been a person of public interest – that damn Mafia King nickname

had done some real damage when it was first applied to him – and whispers start around the room

as he walks in wearing his orange jumpsuit, his wrists cuffed.

Kent clenches his jaw, refusing to meet any of their eyes, his gaze going immediately to the front of

the room where his team of lawyers wait, and to Daniel and Jerome, sitting in the first gallery row

behind them. Kent’s heart sinks, just a little bit, when he sees that Fay isn’t there with them.

What he’d give to see her, just for a moment – just a glimpse.

She’s got to be in her second trimester by now, which means she’ll be showing – if just a little bit.

He wants to know everything – absolutely everything about it. But he also understands: if Fay and

Daniel are trying to go legitimate, to convince the world that Daniel is her husband and the father of

her child, then she can’t have anyone see her relationship with Daniel’s father as anything but a

disgraced father-in-law.

It makes sense.

But god damn it, it hits him right in the heart.

Daniel gives him a little smile, just the corner of his mouth pulling up, and Kent nods to him, and

then to Jerome sitting beside him.

For a moment, as Kent passes to the group of his lawyers sitting at the front of the room, he

considers how weird it is that Jerome is always around. He glances over his shoulder, frowning at

the young man who he picked up basically off the streets, never intending for him to be any more

than a low-level runner. And now he was the only one Daniel and Fay bailed out of jail? And he

was, essentially, living with them?

Who the hell was this kid?

Kent makes a mental note to ask Daniel next time they speak alone, but then he sighs considering

that…well, it doesn’t really matter, does it? Jerome is in. And he, Kent, is…screwed.

The judge begins speaking and Kent’s lawyers kick into gear, giving their responses and making

their arguments. Kent glances over at the lawyers for the state, noticing for the first time that Ivan is

over there as well, apparently waiting in case he needs to be called as a witness. But then Kent

looks away, because it can’t possibly matter anymore.

Kent barely listens as his lawyers speak. He knows the details of what they’re asking for – he’s read

all the paperwork and asked all of his questions. This judgment session is, largely, a formality – the

teams have come to an understanding, and the judge will only really deny it if she has some kind of

personal vendetta. And, glancing up at her face, which is very nearly bored, Kent considers that it

would be a surprise if she did that.

So, he lets himself space out a little bit, which he never does, glancing down at the paperwork on

the table and passively reading some of the words. But as he looks closer, he frowns, leaning

forward a bit to see that…

Her handwriting is…basically on every piece of paper here.

What?

Kent’s eyes eagerly pass over everything on the table, noting Fay’s chaotic cursive notes on nearly

every document that the lawyers have brought today – which were only updated yesterday with the

final details. Which means that…Fay was up last night, or this morning, going over every bit of it.

What the hell?

Why on earth was she involved? Fay doesn’t have a law degree – and while she’s certainly clever

enough to understand it…why…

Kent stands up straight and sighs through his nose, working hard to keep his face impassive. What

on earth is she up to? He knows she wanted him to take this plea deal, but he had assumed it was

to…keep things easy for him, for all of them. To just get everything settled so that they could all go

on with their lives – Kent in jail, Daniel and Fay out in the world.

But this? The fact that she’s not just leaving it up to the lawyers? That she’s apparently going over

every bit of the paperwork?

Kent clenches his fists as he realizes that…that Fay is fighting for him. And he doesn’t get it – he

doesn’t know how, or why – but she’s up to something.

And he could kill her for it – for putting herself in the middle, when she should be concentrating on

herself, on the baby.

But damn it, if his heart doesn’t swell with happiness and pride. Because his girl is out there, and

she’s fighting for him.

And he…he doesn’t really know if he fully deserves it. Deserves her.

But he’ll take it. God damnit, he’ll take it, all of it. Because he’s a selfish bastard and Fay?

Because she’s everything.

“Mr. Lippert?” The judge says turning her gaze on him now and startling him a bit out of his reverie.

“How do you plead?”

Kent glances at his lawyer, who nods to him, letting him know to do as rehearsed.

“Guilty,” he replies, his voice ringing out stronger than he thought it would when he entered the court

room, almost…god, it almost sounds a little happy, and smug, and sly.

The press whispers with curiosity and anticipation.

The judge takes a moment to look at him and then puts her glasses on, looking down at her the

paperwork in front of her. “So be it. The sentencing will be delayed, then, but I am well convinced

that the bargain struck here between the state and the defendant is equitable. Mr. Lippert, if you

provide evidence to the state regarding the illegal activities of other extant criminal organizations to

the satisfaction of the state, you will be sentenced to twenty years in prison for your collected

crimes. Do you understand?”