Pauline Giuliani, known to others as Pauley, had dreaded this day for over two years now. The man who’d stolen her heart with the sweetest love imaginable and then hardened it to the world, was about to take the stand to testify against her and her family. At this point, she blamed herself. There had been several opportunities when she could have taken his life, but she could not bring herself to pull the trigger. By the time she did not care if he lived or died, he had security surrounding him. Now, her father, for whatever reason, was blocking her efforts to eliminate their enemy. Now she had to handle things behind his back. She wasn’t concerned about his retaliation. The end result is what counts, she rationalized as she sat next to her father and their attorneys.
The courthouse was packed as DA Crenshaw delivered a convincing opening into the R.I.C.O. case against the Giuliani crime family. Witnesses up to this point had consisted of family members of victims of various crimes. They were returning from a recess when Crenshaw stood.
“The prosecution calls Cainan Wagner to the stand.”
Cainan was brought through the door with several security officers surrounding him. When he reached the gate the security stayed back, as he continued to the witness stand. He turned to face the crowd and was about to raise his right hand, and froze. His eyes could not believe who he was seeing. There she was AnnieMarie Dunning in all her fineness, looking back at him with the most adorable smile. Not thinking straight in the moment, he broke into a smile. He almost raised his hand to wave at her, but was stopped when he noticed Pauley, who was sitting at the defense table, turn to see what had caught his attention.
“Please raise your right hand.”
Cainan heard the bailiff speak. He flashed an eye to Mike who was sitting next to AnnieMarie. He gave a slight shake of his head, then glanced back at AnnieMarie.
“Agent Wagner?” Judge Edwards called out.
“Yes, Your Honor.”
While he addressed the judge, he never took his eyes off AnnieMarie. He watched as Mike touched her arm, they stood, then discreetly walked out the door. His eyes then met his sister Kennedy’s. The family had made a decision, for security purposes only one would attend court. Kennedy was there to support him. But what he needed more was for her to support AnnieMarie. He did not want to draw more attention than he had so he continued to stare at his sister until she got his unspoken message.
“You have been asked to raise your right hand.”
When he saw Kennedy stand, Cainan glanced at the judge and nodded. “Yes, Your Honor,” he replied then raised his right hand.
“Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?”
“I do.”
He unbuttoned his suit jacket, sat, crossed his legs then looked directly at Pauline Giuliani.
$ $ $
Kennedy wasn’t sure what was happening, but she knew the movie star looking woman had something to do with it. She walked out the courtroom doors then looked around until she saw the man who was at the house last week, talking to the woman. Kennedy walked towards them and could tell the woman was giving the man hell.
“I don’t care, Mike. I should be in there with him.”
“Excuse me,” Kennedy interrupted.
“Hello Ms. Wagner,” Mike spoke, clearly agitated. “AnnieMarie this is Cainan’s sister, Kennedy Wagner.”
“Hello Kennedy.”
The woman reached out and hugged her as if Kennedy had known her all of their lives.
She pulled away holding Kennedy’s shoulders as she spoke. “I want you to know, I am going to kill Cainan for this.”
Kennedy looked at the woman wearing navy blue, and heels, with a matching purse and gloves in her hand. Her hair was up in a French roll, and she had on pearl earrings and a pearl necklace around her neck. Who in the hell wore dress gloves and pearls? As odd as it looked to her, the woman was simply gorgeous with big, angry brown eyes staring at her. “Okay,” Kennedy replied. “Are you killing him with kindness or love? Because it seems to me you have a lot of love going on inside for my brother.”
The woman stood there staring at her for the longest, then a smile appeared, her eyes softened and the tension that was there only seconds ago faded. “I think I like you.”
“Thank you, I think,” Kennedy smiled. “He wanted me to check on you. Are you okay?”
“I don’t understand why he wanted me to leave,” AnnieMarie replied. “I wanted to be here to support him.”
Kennedy glanced at Mike. “May we have a moment?”
Mike nodded his head then stepped away.
“AnnieMarie is a beautiful name,” Kennedy began as they sat on the bench. “He wants you out of danger. If I know my brother, he does not want you in the same room with the Giulianis. They are dangerous and will do whatever they can to persuade him to change his testimony. It is my belief that he would do anything to keep you out of eyeshot of them.”
“I am just as concerned for him. That is why I felt it was important for Cainan to know I support him.”
“Well,” Kennedy crossed her legs, then sat back with a smirk, “from that silly grin he had on his face, I’m pretty sure he knows that.” She laughed. “I can’t wait to tease him. For a minute I thought he was going to run, jump over the gate and grab you up in a big juicy kiss.”
AnnieMarie sat back, then crossed her legs. “I would have given him a big sloppy kiss right back.”
“I don’t want to hold you out here. You should go back in there.”
Kennedy shook her head. “I’d rather stay here with you. If I go back in there, I might catch a case.”
“”I can understand that. I’m about ready to take out that entire Giuliani family.”
“No,” Kennedy shrugged, “they are going to get what’s coming to them. It’s the DA I want to strangle.”
“Why would you want to do that? He’s the person who is using your brother’s testimony to put those people away. He’s supposed to be a good guy.”
“He is a good guy, but he is also a man, therefore stupid.”
“Oh,” AnnieMarie nodded. “Most of them are.”
Kennedy stared at her. “Aren’t you going to ask me what he did?”
AnnieMare laughed. “I take it he is someone you are involved with romantically and he stepped outside the boundaries.”
“You damn right he did,” Kennedy replied. “He was sleeping with another women. As it turns out he was sleeping with the enemy and didn’t even know it.”
“How stupid is that?” AnnieMarie took a breath. “Who was the woman? A friend of yours?”
“Worse,” Kennedy exclaimed. “He was sleeping with Pauley Giuliani.”
AnnieMarie jumped up flabbergasted. “He was sleeping with a man?”
Kennedy stared at her with a frown. “Pauley Giuliani isn’t a man. She’s a woman.” The look on AnnieMarie’s face clearly let Kennedy know she had no idea. “You did not know that Pauley Giuliani is Pauline?”
AnnieMarie slowly sat back down. “No. I had no idea?”
“Well, as it turns out Benny and Cainan both have been in the bed with the enemy. The only difference is Cainan slept with her for work reasons, Benny, well because he is a weak man.”
“You should find a hammer and bash his balls in,” AnnieMarie said. “I know that’s what I plan on doing to your brother.”
Kennedy smiled. “That is exactly what I’m going to do,”
“Bash in Cainan’s balls?”
“No, Benny’s. Cainan didn’t even know you when he was sleeping with Pauley.”
“Hmm. I will take that under consideration.”
“You should. Cainan is in there putting his life on the line to have a future with you. He could have walked away, but he did not. Like the hero he has always been. Cainan took extraordinary steps to protect his family and now he is doing the same to protect you.” Kennedy stood. “I call that a man demonstrating his love for a woman.” She started walking away.
“Kennedy,” AnnieMarie walked over to her. She reached inside her purse and pulled out her note. She kissed it then held it out to her. “Will you give this to Cainan for me? I think it is best for me to leave. The last thing I want is to be a distraction for him.”
“Please tell me you are not leaving because of what I told you about Pauley.”
“No,” AnnieMarie smiled. “It is clear Cainan understands how to handle this situation, better than I do. I’m going to trust him. And don’t worry. There is no way I’m going to let that heifer ruin the rest of our lives.”
Kennedy took the note. “I will make certain he receives this.”
“Thank you.” AnnieMarie smiled. “When this is all over I hope you will come to Virginia and spend some time with us.”
“I can do that.” Kennedy nodded. “See you then.”
“Mike,” AnnieMarie called out. “I’m ready to go home.”
Mike glanced at Kennedy and whispered. “Thank you.”
“Keep her safe for Cainan.”
Mike looked at AnnieMarie. “You are sure you want to go home.”
“Yes. I’ve caused enough of a stir around here. Besides, Kennedy has a few nuts to crack.”
Kennedy burst out laughing. One of the sheriff officers stuck his head out the door giving her a warning look.
“Let’s get you out of here before you cause more trouble,” Mike turned her towards the exit “We have to stop by the hospital to pick up Grace.”
“I think she would appreciate a little company while she visits with Roark.”
“Once the doctors give him the okay we are going to fly him home,” Mike said as they reached the vehicle.
“I’m sure his parents will appreciate that.” AnnieMarie said as he closed the door.
Neither paid attention to the man who followed them out of the building.
$ $ $
The first day of the trial came to an end when jury members were too upset by the chain of events Cainan had shared to continue. The Judge dismissed the jury and gave them a day to regroup. The attorneys would resume presenting the evidence on Wednesday at 9 a.m.
Cainan was immediately surrounded by Jerome and his team then taken out of the side door.
“Where is AnnieMarie?” Cainan asked Jerome as soon as they were in the vehicle.
“Mike took her back to Virginia,” Jerome replied.
“Is she upset?”
“I didn’t get a chance to talk to her.”
“Where is Kennedy?”
“In the second car,” Jerome replied. “You did good today. The jury felt the tragedy of those deaths.”
Cainan sighed. “Telling it is like reliving it.”
“The DA indicates Wednesday will be your last day in court.”
“I need this to end.” Cainan sat up. “It was surprisingly quiet at the courthouse. That makes me uncomfortable.”
“We have it under control. Talk to me about AnnieMarie.”
Cainan raised an eyebrow. “What about her?”
“Once the case is over, are you planning on staying here or going back to Virginia?” Jerome asked.
Cainan cleared his throat. “You are asking because?”
Jerome exhaled. “Hepburn liked you. If it had not been for this situation, he would have welcomed your advances towards AnnieMarie. I thought you should know that.”
There was silence in the vehicle until they reached the house. “Thank you for telling me that Jerome. It means a lot. And just so you know. I plan to be with AnnieMarie. Now that my family knows the truth my mind is at peace.”
“Fair enough.”
The vehicles pulled up and parked. Cainan was rushed into the house.
“How did it go?” Scott asked as they walked in. His mother right behind him.
“Rough testimony, but I survived.”
“He more than survived,” Kennedy said as she walked in. “He gave the jury a look into the evilness of the Giuliani family.”
“No attempts from Giuliani?” Scott asked.
“Nothing today,” Cainan replied.
“Cainan had a visitor today,” Kennedy said as she took a seat in the kitchen. Cainan gave her a look.
“A visitor?” Kaitlyn asked looking from one to the other.
“AnnieMarie Dunning,” Kennedy replied.
“She came to the trial?” Kandace looked up from her laptop. “You’re kidding? What does she look like?”
“A 1950’s movie star.”
Cainan shook his head not wanting to play the teasing game right now. “She only stayed for a minute.”
“No she didn’t,” Kennedy pulled the note from her pocket. “We had a fun talk and she gave me this note for you.” She acted as if she was going to open it. “Even kissed it. See, the outline of her lipstick?”
Cainan reached for the note, but Kennedy pulled it away.
“Kennedy give it to him,” Kaitlyn ordered.
“All right…all right.” She gave Cainan the note. “I like her a lot.” She said to his back as he walked down the hallway to the office.
Cainan pulled off his tie and suit jacket then sat at the desk, unfolded the note and began to read. He was half way through when a moan escaped his throat. “AnnieMarie you are killing me.”