Unbreak Me (30 page)

“Molly,” Jenna said. “We are all here, supporting you because we love you. Don’t allow that asshole to unnerve you, okay?”

Molly hugged Jenna. “Thank you.”

Connor wrapped his arms around her neck, whispering in her ear, “Be brave, baby.”

Molly gave them a wry smile then was escorted to a room where she sat with Barry’s assistant, Lenora.

Barry came in one last time, just to make sure she was okay, then he was gone. It was the longest few hours of her life, giving her so much time to overthink, going over the details in her head. A horrid sensation spun in her stomach as she thought about the attack.

The door opened. It was show time.

* * * *

Molly was called into the courtroom, where she was sworn in and took a seat on the stand. Her nerves presented themselves in a sweat patch in the palms of her hands, her stomach churning the whole time.

“Ma’am, would you state your name for the court, please?” Barry asked.

“Molly Rice.”

“And how old are you?”

“Twenty-nine,” Molly replied, her voice shaking.

“I’m going to direct your attention to the afternoon of Monday, May twenty-second of last year. Were you working at The Sanctuary?”

“Yes.”

“And do you recall what time your shift was that day?”

“Yes, I was working the three p.m. to eleven p.m. shift.”

“Can you recall who was working with you that day?”

“Yes, I was doing inventory with Regina Burbank. Ashley Slater and Cheryl Saunders were both on site.”

“At what point did the accused, Eugene Salter, make an appearance?”

“It was shortly before five p.m. He came to the window of the office, looking for bleach.”

At that point, Molly’s mind went blank and she found herself back in the basement, unlocking the store, lifting out the bottles of bleach.

“Can you take us through the events that followed Mr. Salter requesting the bleach?”

“I grabbed my keys and went to the basement. We keep all products in locked storage in the basement for inventory purposes. I recalled walking past him, expecting him to stay at the office—” Her voice broke a little. “When I was in the basement, I was just closing the storeroom door when I turned around… Eugene was in front of me. I was initially spooked, not expecting him to be there, but then I became aware that he was masturbating.”

The memory turned her stomach.

“Can you describe the events that took place after?”

“I dropped the bleach, trying to make a run for it, but he grabbed me by my hair and hit me…” Her voice broke.

Molly went into great detail, recalling the attack. At times she felt the tears burn her eyes, the need to cry, to vomit. She even wanted to run. Glancing into the crowd, she saw Connor’s eyes. They, too, were filled with tears. He placed his hand against his mouth and gave her a reassuring nod. Not once did he flinch. He didn’t let her down.

“Can you tell us if the accused is in the court?”

“Yes,” Molly replied, then pointed to Eugene, who sat beside his attorney, looking every inch the decrepit human being he was.

When the cross-examination from the defense got well underway, Molly found herself repeating answers over and over. Then Eugene’s attorney threw it at her.

“Is it true that you gave my client the come-on?”

“Absolutely not.” Molly spat the words.

“Mr. Salter believes that you hinted at meeting him in the basement.”

“That’s not true.”

“Is it also true that you have had a very colorful past?”

“Objection, Your Honor,” Barry stormed.

That did it. Molly could feel the anger burn in her stomach. “Being sexually abused as a child does not make a person promiscuous.”

The trial lasted longer than she’d expected, having been cross-examined and ripped apart by the defense. As she walked away from the courtroom, she broke down.

She was sick, tired, angry—so many emotions—and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it.

Connor held out his arms to her when she saw him. Not wasting a moment, she ran into them, holding on to him for dear life.

“That was horrible,” she cried.

“I know, baby,” he said, consoling her. “But you did brilliantly.”

Barry came out of the court, his face unreadable.

“So?” Connor asked.

“We wait for a verdict,” he replied. “Molly, you did well in there. I know it was hard, but I’m proud of you.”

Molly didn’t know what to say or think, all she knew was that she needed to get as far away as possible from the memory.

It didn’t take long before they were called back into the courtroom.

“Is this bad?” Molly whispered to Barry.

Shaking his head, Barry said, “No, this could be in our favor.”

The words from the juror made Molly’s head dizzy. She couldn’t believe it. The past year, everything she had gone through, the entire process had left her mentally exhausted and was finally over.

Barry’s face was a picture of relief. Eugene’s was one that told her he was pissed as hell and as he was walked out of the court, handcuffed, Molly sat down.

Guilty,
she thought over and over, her head fuzzy. “Can I go?” she asked, not wanting to be there any longer.

“Yes, absolutely,” Barry replied.

Molly tried her best to smile but couldn’t hide the strain the trial had put on her. “Thanks.”

Regina was busy wiping her eyes, and Molly could see the pain. “Hey, Gina, I need to get away from this place. Are you okay with that?”

“Oh no, you two do your thing. I’ve got to drop by the shelter. It’s that time of the week again,” Regina said, ushering Molly to leave.

“Jenna, thank you so much for being here, as always,” Molly said as she held Jenna’s hand.

Nodding, Jenna hugged her. “That’s what family does. Now go on, go be somewhere other than here.”

Molly didn’t need any convincing, she wanted out of that place.

Once she was inside the safety of Connor’s car, she rested her head back, closing her eyes.

“I’m so proud of you,” Connor said as he touched the side of her face.

“Connor?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s not speak of him anymore, not unless we have to, please,” Molly whispered.

“If that’s what you want, then I can do that for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, where should we go?”

“Maybe it’s time you reintroduce me to the in-laws?” She couldn’t believe she had suggested it, but there seemed no better time than the present, considering everything she had just gone through.

“Well, that’s…unexpected.”

“I know. Maybe I’m insane after all,” she tried her hand at a joke.

“If you’re serious, they’ll be at the club,” Connor replied, sounding nearly as nervous as she.

“Let’s do this.”

Connor didn’t ask twice, and Molly didn’t change her mind.

* * * *

Molly took off her jacket. Taking her hair down, she let it fall loosely around her shoulders. Applying a little gloss, she then pinched her cheeks, much to the amusement of Connor.

“Women!”

“What?” she asked.

“You’re gorgeous regardless of the gloss or rosy cheeks,” he said, gazing at her.

“That’s easy for you to say.”

“How so?”

“You’re a dude, you have no idea.”

“I’m also thankful I’ve no idea because I think I’d fail miserably as a woman.”

“You idiot.” Molly laughed.

Molly looked out at the building in front of her and her stomach did a nervous somersault.

Connor pulled up outside the entrance, the passenger door was opened for her, and as she got out, a valet took the keys from Connor, handing him a ticket in return.

“Thank you,” Connor said.

“You’re welcome, Mr. Ellison.”

Molly giggled. It was a mixture of nerves and amusement. “Mr. Ellison, huh?”

Connor wrapped an arm around Molly’s waist and pulled her in close to him, kissing the top of her head. “Don’t be cheeky.”

Walking up the steps and inside the grand doors, Molly couldn’t get over the opulence of the main foyer. A waiter, dressed like something out of a period drama, nodded at Connor as he walked them down some steps and out into a vestibule that led to a huge conservatory.

Molly felt as if she were walking into an alien environment. “So this is how the other half lives?” she whispered as Connor led the way to a table, occupied by his parents.

“It’s how they pretend the world is perfect and their bank balances remain untouched in some tax haven,” Connor joked. “Now, don’t be alarmed, but they have company.”

Molly had already seen exactly what Connor was referring to, and for a brief moment she wanted to pounce like a wild animal, ready for the kill. But instead, she smiled, remaining demure.

“Mom, Dad,” Connor said. “Room for two more?”

John smiled when he saw Molly, immediately standing. “Of course.”

Connor and Molly sat at the table, each one almost as nervous as the other, but holding their ground quite perfectly.

“How nice of you to bring your friend for afternoon tea,” Marissa said as she lifted her teacup to her lips, glaring at Molly the whole time.

“Well, actually, we came to share some news,” Connor said, looking at Molly with loving eyes.

“How was little Ollie’s party?” Eleanor interrupted him. Ignoring Molly’s presence. “The little dear is such a sweetie. I was sorry that I couldn’t make it, but I had an appointment that couldn’t wait.”

“Connor proposed and I accepted,” Molly blurted out, holding her ring high enough for them all to get a good glimpse of the diamond.

Marissa nearly choked on her tea, coughing as liquid slipped out of her nose. Molly sniggered at her discomfort and took great pleasure in the announcement.

“Well, this is a surprise,” John said. “Congratulations. I guess there’s only one thing to say— Welcome to the family, Molly.”

Molly had never thought she had such determination, but there was a force within her, a glimmer of something that made her stand out from the crowd, and there was no stopping her now. She had come into her own, and, boy, had she grown.

Chapter Forty-Seven

“Isn’t this all rather sudden?” Eleanor asked, unable to hide her discomfort. Her hands trembled as she set down her cup.

Eleanor glared at Molly and it was hard for Connor to remain composed. He didn’t appreciate the way her eyes ridiculed the woman who was to be his wife.

“Not at all, Mother, it was always going to happen. It just took a little time,” Connor replied, wrapping an arm around Molly’s shoulders, making sure both Eleanor and Marissa got the message, loud and clear.

“It’s ridiculous,” Marissa aired her feelings. “Who is she?” she raised her voice. “She doesn’t belong here. We are not her people.”

Connor reveled in Marissa’s contempt for Molly. It proved to him exactly the kind of woman she was. She was loathsome, a user, a sorry excuse for a woman, and he was well and truly done with her and his mother’s dire attempts at matchmaking.

“Oh, shut up, you stupid fool,” Connor said. “Molly is something you will never be. She has more class than you’ve ever had, so why don’t you do us all a favor and go torment some other sad fucker with your whiny, needy, manipulating ways, because quite frankly, you bore us, and I know you bore the shit out of my father.”

Open-mouthed and in shock, Marissa tried to think of a comeback, but it was pointless. She had been put well and truly in her box, and no one was coming to her aid.

“Enjoy her while you can, because from what I hear, she loves nothing better than a good drink. How’s the head, darling?” She directed the question to Molly. “Not thirsty, are you?”

“Nope, can’t say I am,” Molly replied, smiling the whole time. “Connor tends to my thirst these days.”

Marissa’s face screwed up. Her fingers scraped along the top of the tablecloth, looking more feral by the second.

“Marissa, I think you should leave,” John said.

Both Eleanor and Marissa gave him a steely glare. Each one as horrified as the other. Eleanor was about to say something, only to be cut off by John.

“Pipe down, dear, this is our son’s life, not ours.”

Smiling, Connor reached over and patted his father on the back. “Thanks, Dad.”

“You know what?” Marissa shouted. “I thought you’d learned your lesson. But oh no, you go running to an alcoholic gold digger.” She glared at Molly as she stood. “You were meant to come to me. I went to so much trouble getting those files into Miller’s hands, and for what? Nothing! You make me sick, Connor Ellison. You are nothing but a coward.”

The truth finally came out, leaving both Connor and his father stunned. Even Eleanor looked at Marissa in horror.

“It was you?” Connor couldn’t believe the revelation, but it all suddenly made sense.

Marissa laughed and threw back her head. “You have no idea the kind of things I can do,” she said. “And now you will never have the chance to redeem yourself. You’re stained, you let that thing touch you, dig her nails in—you are filth and I will make it my business to ruin you.” Marissa walked around the table to where Molly sat, and spat at her.

“You bitch,” Connor roared as he stood. “You are everything that is wrong with the world.”

“Oh, honey, there are two kinds of people in the world—go-getters,” she said, pointing to herself, “or little brain-dead fuckers like her.” She pointed at Molly.

Molly wiped Marissa’s spittle with a napkin, scraped her chair back and stood. Marissa slapped her hard across the face, but Molly was on fine form and had made contact with Marissa’s face before Connor had the chance to determine what she was doing.

Marissa fell back, stunned and unsteady. “I’ll sue you for that.”

“Go right ahead, honey, because I’ve been itching to do that for a while,” Molly replied as she sat back down, staring at the faces of the other club members.

“Did anyone see what just happened?” John asked the other patrons.

Many shook their heads, while others went about their business.

Marissa pounced forward, grabbing Molly by the hair, pulling her off the chair and onto the floor. Molly didn’t waste a moment as she hit back into Marissa’s face, pushing her off her. The two women fought until Connor and a waiter separated them.