Lies Inside (40 page)

“My wife and I are standing here today because of these two people. They have turned our lives upside down with their actions. Theirs was a sick and twisted version of love; love of control, love of power, but love all the same. It was the only kind I knew for a very long time until this angel beside me came back into my life.” Lucy squeezed his side and smiled as he glanced her way. “Though the pain of what they both did will be with me for the rest of my life, it won’t ruin me. They deserve every single second in prison that you give them for what they have put both of us through. In that time, however, we won’t dwell on that pain. We have already started to regain a life we can be proud of. A life without shame. A life without fear. Viktor justified his actions as acts of love. I really don’t think he understands what the word means or what it truly feels like. For that, I pity him. I wouldn’t wish even my worst enemy a life without real love.” Finn cleared his throat. “Your Honor, it is men and women like these two who bring out the worst in our society. I implore you to make sure they do not see the light of day until they understand the damage they have caused, not only to my family, but to their own.” Finn stepped aside and let Lucy take over.

“As my husband said, we are regaining our lives. We are taking each day one step at a time, healing a little with each step. What I went through was nothing compared to Finn’s.” She tried to hold back the tears. She couldn’t though as they began to fall. “It still isn’t any less real. The only reason I’m standing here today is because I had Finn with me. If those three days they had kept him away from me had turned into weeks or even months, I know I would have never made it. They can never be punished enough for the hole they ripped in our lives or the lives of their children. I will find comfort in the thought that because of people like you, Your Honor, and Mr. Shepherd, justice has truly been served.”

She took a deep breath as Finn cradled her in his arms.

“Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley.”

The judge began to look through some of his papers as they returned to their seats.

They stayed wrapped up in each other as Viktor and Camille stood to receive their sentences.

“For the crime of assault in the first degree, you are hereby sentenced to no less than forty-eight months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For the crime of possession of child pornography, you are hereby sentenced to no less than one hundred and twenty months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For the crime of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, you are hereby sentenced to no less than one hundred and fifty months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For the crime of kidnapping, you are hereby sentenced to no less than two hundred and thirty-four months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In accordance to your plea, the assault, sexual abuse, and kidnapping charges will all be served concurrently, with the possession charge to be carried out thereafter.”

Finn let it all go. The tears were happily flowing as he heard the slam of the gavel. A total of at least three hundred and fifty-four months in prison, twenty-nine and a half years. He didn’t want to know when they would be eligible for parole, but Max assured him it was a long way down the road. Finn didn’t actually see either Viktor or Camille making it out the other side.

Finn took one last look at Camille as she faced him with Viktor in her arms. She mouthed, “I’m so sorry,” as tears streamed down her face. All he could do was nod in acknowledgment of her words. Somehow, Finn actually believed her.

“Surprise!” About a hundred of their friends and family had gathered in the O’Malley’s living room when they arrived home from Montana.

Rylan glowed as she made her way over to Lucy and Finn.

“Tell me you love it? I know you do, but tell me anyway,” Rylan pleaded as her arms surrounded Finn’s waist.

He looked at the room full of soft light and music. Fragrant flowers and presents. A table with hundreds of presents he knew they could never accept.

Finn looked down to see the love and excitement in his sister’s eyes. “I love it. Definitely a surprise.” He kissed Rylan on top of her head.

“A welcome home-slash-wedding reception,” She chirped as she squeezed Lucy’s hand. “We wanted you guys to celebrate. You both so deserve it.”

Finn saw Aiden out of the corner of his eye and squinted. “This is why you wanted to stay for the rest of the week.”

“Yep...and...” Finn saw him wave someone over from the other side of the room.

She took her little steps until she was right in front of Finn. He took her tiny frame in his arms. “Thanks for coming.”

“I’ve missed you. Maybe not as much as Aiden, but enough.”

“Thanks, Bryn.” Finn pulled back from her and turned to Lucy. “This is my wife.”

Lucy instantly took Bryn in her arms. “Thank you so much for coming and taking care of our Aiden.”

Bryn pulled back and held Lucy’s hands in hers as Aiden found her shoulders. “It’s been a full-time job, but the benefits are worth it.”

Aiden dipped in and kissed Bryn’s cheek, slipping his arms around her waist.

“He’s happy and that’s all I’ve ever wanted for him.” Finn patted Aiden on the head.

“You too, brother. You too.”

Finn and Lucy spent the rest of the night dancing and talking, listening to all kinds of music, but most of all, laughing. Laughing like there was no tomorrow.

Finn twirled the girls around and acted like a complete idiot as if he were drunk. Actually, he was, at least, drunk on life. Finally taking every fiber of it in. Loving his wife, his parents, Rylan, Aiden and even Lane and Jack. Then feeling truly blessed to have two real angels in his life. Those precious little beauties would be nothing like their former family. They would be O’Malleys. They were his sisters, and he would protect them with his life.

Their lives were finally coming full circle, and he knew what the answer would be when the question came.

“You really think you can do it?” Aiden looked at Finn wearily.

He nodded. He was almost as nervous facing the future as he had been facing Viktor, although he knew he could do it.

“Yes, Aiden. I know I can.”

Finn couldn’t believe how nervous he’d become. He had faced so many obstacles over the past year, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to face all of them.

Finn and Lucy had checked into the hotel about an hour before. It was the first time they had gone anywhere by themselves as a married couple. It felt strange but good when they checked in as Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley. He wasn’t so sure the front desk clerk believed them, but then he noticed her checking out their rings.

“Shouldn’t he be here by now?”

“He said six-thirty and it’s just six twenty-five.” Finn adjusted the watch on his wrist.

He knew he needed to stay calm, but as the minutes ticked by, his nerves began to fray.

At seven o’clock a knock came at the door. Finn opened it.

“I know. I know. I’m late.” Aiden rushed passed Lucy, and Finn closed the door behind him.

“What took you so long?” He was hardly ever late, for anything.

“It’s Bryn.”

“Is she okay?” Lucy went to pat his shoulder.

“She’ll be fine, after she stops puking.”

“Man, I’m sorry. That’s terrible.” Finn shook his head.

“Yeah. She was really looking forward to tonight. The place we’re going has some really great music. I even brought my guitar because the owner lets me jam sometimes. Maybe you would...”

Aiden’s eyes met Finn’s. In an instant, Finn knew what he was thinking.

“No. No way. I came here for a nice vacation. You can’t make me go up on that stage with you.”

“Come on, man. It’ll be like old times. Please.”

Finn paced around the room for a moment. He knew he might have to face the so-called friends he had left behind at Two Roads. He’d never dreamed of performing in front of any of them again. Aiden was his best friend, and he had gone above and beyond for Finn in the past year. There was no way he could deny him.

“Okay, if we get the chance. I’ll do it.”

They had spent about an hour at Rusty’s Blues Joint, the best blues bar on the West Coast according to Aiden. Most of the time was spent being hugged by girls and patted on the backs by guys when they met Lucy. Everyone Finn knew from Two Roads seemed to be there and approved of Lucy and his marriage. He had a few girls tell him how sorry they were and that they should have never believed the viscous lies that had been spread.

Even Rusty himself came over to their table. He offered his sympathy and his congratulations with a firm handshake.

Finn never expected the tap on his shoulder as he, Lucy, and Aiden enjoyed the band on stage.

“Finn.”

Finn turned to see a face that literally made him sick. “Veronica.”

Lucy’s jaw dropped as she took in all of Veronica.

“This is my wife, Lucy. Lucy, this is Veronica. Aiden’s ex-girlfriend.”

“I know who she is, Finn.” Lucy didn’t accept the hand that was offered.

Veronica dropped her hand to her side. “Guess I deserve that. I really want to say I’m sorry. I really had no idea. I jumped to the wrong conclusion and have regretted it every day since.”

“You regret it because you know you were wrong or just because you lost Aiden over it?” Aiden lifted an eyebrow to her to ask the same question while Finn wondered how sorry she really was.

“I was wrong.” Her voice trembled as her bottom lip quivered. Finn had never seen Veronica cry, but she’d looked as though she might burst into tears any second.

“Aiden? You and your friend want to play for awhile?” Rusty asked as he squeezed Aiden’s shoulder.

“Absolutely. I’ve got our cases in the car.”

“Well, come on backstage, and I’ll introduce you to some of the new guys.”

Aiden jumped up and started to drag Finn out of his chair.

Before Finn could leave, he turned to Lucy and gave her a soft, passionate kiss, not only for her benefit, but for Veronica’s as well.

“Go get ‘em. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”