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Brady led me to a room with a queen bed and an air mattress on the floor. I guessed the three of us were bunking together.
“I guess this building only has so many rooms, and Mr. Manto thought we’d like to stay together,” Sarah stated softly.
I nodded, keeping mute. Talia recorded me because she was blackmailed; Detective Yasmin was out for my blood; and Mr. White was my uncle.
I threw myself onto the air mattress, wincing when a bit of the anklet clanged against my ankle bone. I was going for a blunt approach when I spoke next.
“Look, Brady, Sarah...” I sighed, glancing over to them. “I had a lot to deal with today, and the option of mind-numbing sleep is really looking good right now. I'm sorry about your aunt, and I'm sorry about this whole mess. You two don't deserve to go through this.”
“That's enough,” Brady broke in gruffly, but Sarah stopped him with a hand on his arm before taking over.
“Faith, you don't deserve to go through this.” Her voice trembled as she tried to tame the obvious emotion she’d kept at bay. She knelt down beside the edge of the air mattress and touched my shoulder. “You’re a good person. A great friend. A wonderful big sister.”
My head shot up at that. Oh no! Bates and Sonya!
Sarah nodded. “You’re a victim. And that woman,” she stated with so much scorn, “for some reason, has decided to make your life miserable, and Tom and I are not going to stand for it.”
“Sarah,” Brady warned.
Sarah whipped toward him. “No, Tom. This has to stop.”
“I know, honey. And we will fight this to the bitter end, but let's just get through today and worry about tomorrow when it comes, okay? Let's see what our options are.”
Her shoulders slumped, and she leaned in to hug me. “We love you, Faith. We’re here till the end.” She released me and got up.
I had taken her hand before she started to walk away. “Thanks, Sarah. I-I love you too.” She smiled.
Dropping my hand, she announced, “I’m going to get ready for bed.” Then she proceeded to grab her things from a bag at the end of the bed before giving Tom a kiss and heading out the door toward the bathroom. Brady hadn’t moved.
When she was gone, he spoke, “What did Yasmin say to you in there? Did she threaten you?”
My chapped lips parted. “It doesn't matter what she said,” I told him, my gaze not wavering from his brown leather shoe as I zoned out. It was a defensive mechanism. Too much had gone on for one day, and I was trying to cope the best way I could. “It’s not true. Just promise me, Brady”—my eyes now met his saddened ones—“that when this is over, she’ll leave us alone.”
His gaze grew fierce before he began speaking. “I promise. I told you to make friends, Faith, and you did. I told you to tell me if you were less than fine, and we’re working on that. I told you not to hit, and I’m taking that back. I want you to tighten up your fists, Faith, and fight. Fight back with all you have, and don’t back down.” He moved then until he was kneeling down in front of me, his eyes fierce. “You are not alone in this, and we’re going to make sure that everything is going to be fine.”
A sob escaped my trembling lips before I clamped them closed and nodded. “Aye, aye, Captain.”
He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “That’s my girl. Now go to sleep. We get into fighting mode tomorrow.”
I went to sleep that night wishing Hotshot was beside me knowing that after all that had happened, my nightmares were once again going to visit me.
I was right. The ink black tentacles of fear reached for me once again as I slept, bringing me back to that same night. Everything happened the same way it usually did, except whereas before my nightmare had been in black and white, that night I relived it in vivid color. It replayed once again, colors swirling, so much red. Then at the hazy end, I finally caught the one clue that would piece all the secrets together. My mind refused to believe it, but looking back, it was plain to see. It could’ve only happened that way.
My heart hammered erratically in my chest as I woke up, a gasp on the edge of my lips.
Memories faded, they wouldn’t regain; the truth would be mine.
I remembered.
I knew who was there with me that night, and I had no idea how I felt about it.
***
That morning, I avoided everyone as best I could. I kept thinking over and over that my assumptions about who was there that night were wrong, but glancing over their way, I knew it had to be true. They saved me, but now they were keeping quiet. Why? Why let me think the worst and hold onto all the guilt? Why not speak up? I looked away when the lawyer who had come earlier said something, trying to gain my attention, and I nodded. Maybe there was a reason. Maybe it was my turn to protect them.
While the lawyer was gathering up her stuff, she spoke again. “This is only the preliminary hearing. They won't decide on your guilt or anything tomorrow, but we might shake down Detective Yasmin’s case using what you told me about her.” I nodded once again, still feeling down.
“Look,” she stated, “I know you’re nervous and scared, but I’m a damn good lawyer. That's what Vic Manto pays me for. You’re his family now”—she gave me a killer smile—“and no one crosses Victor. Let's give this detective some of her own medicine. It’s about time she knows she can’t mess with a Manto.”
My lips parted with shock. “But I'm not a Manto.”
The lawyer’s grin widened as she shouldered her bag, “As of today at eleven am, you’ve been adopted. Courtesy of Grandma Betty.”
“What?! Like legally?” said a shocked Sarah.
“Yes,” came the reply.
“But there's all sorts of requirements you have to go through to do that!” Brady stated in disbelief. “And you didn’t even ask her!”
“When Grandma Betty told Faith she was family, she meant it. And to answer your question,” the lawyer said delicately, “the Mantos have a lot of pull in the system, and it was the only way to protect you. To protect Faith.” She finished her last sentence softly, glancing my way.
“So, Faith... Manto?” I asked uncertainly, not entirely comfortable with the change. But if it was to protect me, then I was all for it. “That's my name now?”
“Yes,” she answered.
I mulled it over before a thought came to me. For the first time since before I got arrested, a true smile came out. “So, I’m like Tucker's sister?”
The lawyer became thoughtful. “No. Not really. Since Grandma Betty adopted you, you’re more like his aunt.”
My smile widened, my dark mood lifting even more. “I can deal with that, but betcha Tucker’s not going to like it.”
“Like what?” Tucker asked, barreling through the door with Grandma Betty and Van not far behind. I tensed, briefly wondering where Talia was, but I relaxed once I realized she wasn’t with them.
Grandma Betty enclosed me into her warm hug, still smelling of cookies. “She’s not here, child,” she whispered in my ear, “and it’s ok to be mad at her.”
I gripped her, lowering my head to her shoulder and fighting back tears. “I’m glad you’re here.”
She patted my head, and I stayed there for a moment longer before pulling away and blinking back my emotions. “Do they know?”
Grandma Betty glanced over shoulder and frowned for a brief second before giving me her attention once again with a mischievous smile. “That you’re family? Yes. The other part I thought I'd leave for you to announce.”
I laughed, then leaned my head to the side staring at the two guys who by default were now my nephews and declared, “You can call me Auntie Faith.”
Shock registered before understanding dawned on the two of them, and Tucker thundered, “Hell. No.”
He turned to his grandmother and pointed as Van started to laugh. “You did this,” Tucker said. “You did this because you knew I was interested in her!”
Grandma Betty shook her head. “Tucker Lee Manto! No, I did not!” she scolded. “I did this because I wanted to. Because Robert White never stepped up, because the Bradys were too polite to do so, because that child is strong and she needs a family who can protect her. So, boy, you rein in that nonsense and respect your elders, or I'm liable to send your uncle after you.”
“Yes, Ma’am, but there's no way in hell I’m calling her Auntie.”
“I second that,” Van stated with a hand raised and an amused look.
I pouted. “Why not?”
“Because you will always be Rella to me,” Tucker answered.
“I’m ok with Rella.” Van nodded.
Tucker shoved Van, and Van laughed. “What?”
I shook my head. I had people who loved me. I had people who cared. I wasn’t alone anymore.
Home, Home, Home.
Would I ever have one again?
I had traveled place to place like unwanted change.
I was no longer unwanted because I had been stolen. I grinned. The best kind of stolen.
***
When the day of the court hearing finally came, I was nervous. Even though I knew who was there with me that night, I never said a word. I couldn’t. It would just cause more problems than we already had.
As we all walked in, I didn't glance at the other table. I wanted to ignore Detective Yasmin. All of us—Brady, Sarah, and our Lawyer among a sprinkle of several tough Mantos—that showed up for support sat on the opposite side of the courtroom. I glanced back toward the court doors before they closed and almost cried when I saw the McGuire crew. Tyler, Kayden and Lincoln, all dressed to impress. Each one caught my eye, and I saw their love for me shining through as they each gave me an encouraging smile. I turned toward the front as the doors closed, and Sarah took my hand, giving my frozen fingers a squeeze of support. I couldn’t imagine what she and Brady were feeling. What kind of risk were they taking choosing to be here with me instead of going home to welcome Bates and Sonya to their new home? I had to protect them.
I felt a nudge on my shoulder, and a folded piece of paper appeared there. Taking the note with my name on it, I unfolded the worn folded edges of what looked like a thousand folds made by nervous hands and read the written words.
Baby- All roots get tangled and twisted, it’s part of life. What matters most is that they’re strong and deep. Twisted together we are stronger and our roots can’t be pulled. I’m in deep with you.
My Queen, Ruler of my heart - First off, you are not fine. Don’t say that you are. You’re not alone. We’re going to win this war, and then we’re taking you home.
Sweetheart - We stand together as one. We would follow you anywhere. Believe in yourself, in us. I love you. Give ‘em hell.
My fingers trembled as I folded up the note that was pure love. Each one of them took their time to craft touching, sweet and true words that would give me strength, hope and love.
I held tightly to the note in the sweaty palm of my hand as we all stood when the bailiff spoke. “All rise for the Honorable Judge Jeppson.”
We all rose, and an older women come out, dressed in the standard black robes judges wore. I watched her sit down in her seat in front of us.
“You may be seated.”
I sat down. Even though I knew I was innocent, my stomach rolled with nervousness with what I was about to do.
The judge spoke yet again, and Sarah took ahold of my hand and gave it a small squeeze of encouragement.
“Today,” the judge spoke, “is the preliminary hearing for the case of Faith...” she paused, and her brow creased. The judge looked my way. “Is your name Faith Daniels or Manto?”
“It was Daniels, Your Honor,” my lawyer spoke up, “but now it’s Manto.”
The judge gave my attorney a narrowed stare. “We cannot proceed with this hearing unless we have a name addendum.”
“But we do, Your Honor.” My lawyer presented her with the paperwork when the judge requested it. Looking it over, she sighed.
“This preliminary hearing is for the case against Faith Iris Manto for the murder of her father, Cyrus Daniels.”
The judge looked to the other side of the courtroom toward where Detective Yasmin sat next to an attorney. “Please present your findings.”
Detective Yasmin was smug as the attorney tore through the detective’s evidence—how the wounds I had suffered could have been self-inflicted; that the neighbor witness saw someone go in and come out but revealed that it was someone of small stature; that I could have come home and seen what was happening, killed my father after he accidentally killed my mother, panicked and left the house to hide the weapon that had been used, then come back to self-inflict wounds that could have been believable before issuing an anonymous call.
“Speculation, Your Honor,” my lawyer shot off.
The courtroom was quiet. “Is it?” the state attorney asked.
Then Detective Yasmin let the tape roll.
“You have no idea what it's like, to wake up from a beating that you never once thought your father was capable of doing.”
“She just trying to help,” I heard Talia murmur through the recording.
“Just because you have lost doesn't mean you understand my loss. I thought I killed my father. Did the papers tell you that? That I held the guilt inside of me...”
Detective Yasmin stopped the tape. “There’s her confession, Your Honor.”
The judge turned to me. “Do you have anything to say for that?”
I cleared my throat and stood and the lawyer stood as well. “We have reason to believe—” the lawyer started, but I broke in.
“I’m guilty, but not in the way Detective Yasmin painted.”
“Faith!” Brady and the lawyer reprimanded.
“Your Honor, I know this is unusual, but may I speak freely about that night and what happened after?”
The judge nodded. “This isn’t a trial yet, but you may speak your piece, though I strongly suggest that you allow your counsel to speak for you.”
“Thank you, Your Honor. It all started when my brother died...” I told them all everything. Their sadness, the pain, their drinking. How they forgot to get food when their main source of sustenance had become alcohol. How my dad fought. My mother cried all the time. Then that night.
“.... I always hid in my closet,” I murmured. “My parents had changed, and so had I. The closest was safe, but that night, for the first time, he wasn’t breaking things, he was breaking her. I ran out there to see if I could stop him...” I shook my head, dropping it as my voice shook, “he hit her too hard. She was thrown off balance and hit the corner of the coffee table. There was blood...” My chest hurt thinking back. My voice shook. “So much blood. I-I-I tried to protect her, but I wasn't quick enough. My dad, he was beyond reasoning. He wasn’t there anymore. I cradled my mom, pushing my father away as his hard blows transferred to me. I watched as my mom died, Your Honor. He was going to kill me, next. I couldn’t get away. I was only thirteen. I loved my father. He used to be the one who kissed me goodnight. Taught me to fish in Witchback Spring, ride a bike and there he was, a man I didn’t know. No matter how hard I fought, he was stronger.” I lifted my head, fighting back tears. “When I was close to blacking out, I saw one of those hard whiskey bottles. The ones that were clear, hard glass with the red top, and I hit him.”
There was a gasp behind me. “I don’t know what happened after that because I blacked out and couldn’t remember. It wasn’t until two days ago that I had another night terror and realized what had happened. That recording was a tortured girl, unsure of what happened but still filled with so much guilt. I didn’t remember anything. I died that night, and Officer Brady brought me back. After that, I was put in foster homes and harassed by Detective Yasmin...”
“Now wait a minute,” I heard Detective Yasmin say to the other attorney.
“Objection, Your Honor!”
“Denied. I want to hear what she has to say.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my emotions. “Despite the reports that state I was a difficult child, it was not true. I graduated early, despite all the times Detective Yasmin had sought me out before and after school for interrogation purposes for hours on end, and without parental consent from my guardian ad litem or any access to anyone. She purposely sought me out when I had moved to New York. She wired one of my friends, now a relative, after blackmailing her. Then she had me arrested at my guardian's aunt's funeral. I’m sorry, but I feel like there have been more unjust things happen to me for being a confused, traumatized kid, who had done everything to try to make her life better. I want this to be over. I was only protecting myself,” I finished, a weight lifting.
The judge questioned my lawyer, “Do you have proof about the guardian ad litem and the blackmail?”
My lawyer straightened. “Yes. We have certified documents and notarized letters stating this, as well as witnesses here today.”
The judge called the state’s attorney and Detective Yasmin, who was sputtering, as well as my lawyer up to the bench. After brief words, the judge announced that there was going to be a brief recess and they would convene back in courtroom in half an hour. My lawyer came back with a smile. “We're going to go talk to the judge in her office. You scared me there for a moment, Faith, but I believe with what you said, everything's going to be okay.” She smiled at me but then gave me a serious look. “But as your lawyer, I’m going to have to insist that you don’t pull a stunt like that ever again. There’s a reason I went to seven years of school for this job, and an even better reason why Vic Manto pays me to do this stuff. Leave it to the pros next time.”
They told us we could leave the courtroom, but I didn't want to. I didn't want to talk with anyone. Brady and Sarah tried to talk to me, as well as Tucker and Grandma Betty, but I stayed silent.
When the judge came back and we are all were seated, Detective Yasmin wasn’t sitting at the prosecutor's table with the attorney, but the man who had saved me that one time in the interrogation room stood in her place.
“It has come to my attention,” the judge stated, “that the investigation Detective Yasmin originally began was not fully approved, nor was it legal. Add along to that the negligence of proper interrogation procedures and the equivalent of stalking and blackmail, this creates an anomaly in our court hearing and earlier findings in the death of Cyrus Daniels. The case against Faith Iris Manto is considered closed. You are free and clear of any legal pursuits on this matter, Ms. Manto, unless the prosecution turns up any new evidence, and as such are free to go. The state takes these matters very seriously, and Detective Yasmin has been placed on administrative leave until further notice. I’d advise you to fill out an order of protection against her. With that, court is adjourned.”
My heart raced in my ears as relief consumed me. We won. I was free. We were free, I amended, glancing over to my family. Happy.
“We need to get out of here,” my lawyer stated, rushing us out of the courtroom into a large hallway where Brady was the first to pull me into a hug.
“It’s over kiddo,” he gruffed. “and I’m so sorry.”
I gave him a squeeze, my heart full. “You don’t have to say sorry, Brady. I understand,” I mumbled against his shoulder then whispered, “We protect the ones we love. That's just what families do. You needed to protect her and the kids, and so did I. So I lied.”
He pulled back, tears evident in his eyes. “You know?”
I swallowed, nodding before reaching for Sarah, who was standing, waiting to hug me. I wrapped my arms around her. “Thank you, Sarah. For running that night.” She started to cry when she realized I knew. “For saving me. Taking me into your home. Never giving up. Thank you.”
“I love you, Faith, but I couldn’t tell you. I was so scared,” she whispered. “I went on a run that night.” Sarah started to cry. “When I rounded the corner, I could hear voices, and as I got closer I heard everything. You, saying your mother was dead and then you pleading for your life. I-I didn’t think. I just threw open your front door and saw all the blood and then you. Your father was out of control. He was so far gone that he didn’t even notice me. I took that liquor bottle, Faith, the one you describe earlier with the red cap, and I hit him with it.” Sarah trembled. “He just dropped on top of you and didn’t move. So I pushed him off and rushed outside to call Tom, but I saw the police car already coming. I was scared. Scared of what I did. I took the liquor bottle and continued jogging down the street and around the corner until I got home and threw it away. I never told Tom until...”
“You came back from your anniversary vacation,” I finished, all of it coming together for me. “That’s why you don’t run at nights anymore, and why your gloves went missing,” I breathed.
“Can you ever forgive me?” Sarah pleaded, pulling back from me. “For what I did. For keeping it a secret?”
“There's nothing to forgive,” I replied honestly. “Thank you, Sarah. For saving me.”
“Time to go,” Brady urged. “I don’t want anyone to change their minds.”
When we got to the lobby of the courthouse, I noticed a huge crowd had gathered. “We’re going out the front,” Brady told me, “but you’re headed out the back with the lawyer.”
“What? Why?”
“Trust us, Faith. Go,” Sarah spoke, pushing me another direction. “Hurry.”
“Best be going, Faith.” Grandma Betty smiled. “I’m pretty sure you’ll understand when you get there. See you back home.” She kissed my forehead before I hurried toward my lawyer, who was waiting.
“Ready?” she asked, not waiting for an answer before rushing us through a hallway toward the back of the building where a black suburban waited with tinted windows. “Get in,” she commanded, and I slid inside. Kayden, Lincoln, and Tyler sat inside waiting for me.
My heart burst with relief as all the tears I’d held at bay escaped, and I fell into Kayden’s arms. All was right in the world again.