Chapter 196
Chapter 196:
“Your phone is gone,” Hilliard reminded her. “And even if it turns up, without a chain of custody it’s inadmissible. Right now it’s your word against the victim’s p>
“I am the victim!” Cailin’s voice cracked.
“Not in the eyes of the law. Not tonight.” Hilliard leaned back. “Gregg English has deep pockets and deeper connections. If this goes to trial, they will bury you. You’ll be looking at twenty years minimum p>
The blood drained from Cailin’s face. Twenty years. Her children would be grown. They would forget her. Or worse — Hilliard would find them, raise them, and shape them into cold, unfeeling replicas of himself.
“Why are you here?” she whispered. “To gloat p>
“I’m here to get you out p>
Cailin narrowed her eyes. “Why would you help me? You think I tried to kill your fiancée p>
𝗧𝘳𝖾𝗇d𝗶𝘯𝗴 𝘯o𝗏е𝗹ѕ 𝘰n
“I think you and Charla have a toxic history that exploded tonight,” Hilliard said carefully. “I don’t want my wife in prison. It reflects poorly on the company p>
He was lying. Or hiding something. But Cailin didn’t have the energy to parse his motives.
“What’s the catch p>
“My lawyers are arranging bail, but it’s conditional,” Hilliard said. “The DA wants a gesture of de-escalation — a sign that this won’t become a media circus.” He leaned forward, his voice dropping. “The condition is that you agree to a restraining order. Stay five hundred feet away from Charla English at all times. No contact. No public statements p>
Cailin recoiled as though he had slapped her. “A restraining order? Against me? She’s the one who attacked me p>
“It’s a legal maneuver, Cailin. A formality,” Hilliard said. “You agree to the order, it shows the court you’re not a threat. Bail is granted, no questions asked. We walk out of here tonight.” He held her gaze. “You refuse, and they hold you for seventy-two hours while they investigate. Seventy-two hours for them to obtain a search warrant for your hotel suite p>
He let the threat hang in the air. He didn’t know what was in that suite — but he knew it was her weakness. The mention of the family package had sent her into a panic. He was aiming a weapon in the dark, and Cailin knew exactly where it was pointed.
If they were still there. If Ashley hadn’t gotten them out in time.
Seventy-two hours was an eternity. They couldn’t risk it.
Cailin closed her eyes. A single tear escaped, hot and humiliating. She dug her fingernails into her palm until she felt skin give.
“You are a monster,” she whispered.
“I am the only one who can save you right now,” Hilliard said. He stood and buttoned his jacket. “So — seventy-two hours in a cell and a search warrant? Or a piece of paper and your freedom p>
Cailin opened her eyes. They were dry now, and hard as flint.
“I’ll do it,” she said. Her voice was dead. “I’ll sign the papers p>
Hilliard nodded. He didn’t look triumphant. He looked relieved — which was almost worse.
“Good.” He knocked on the door.