“No.” I cross my arms and stand. “I don’t even know what the hell is going on. I thought we were just going to a Society event, and then Judge comes home all out of sorts—”

“You didn’t tell her?” Santi arches a brow at Judge.

“No.” Judge shifts, his discomfort obvious.

“Well, can somebody kindly tell me what the hell is going on?” I demand.

Santi sighs, scrubs a hand over his face, and I don’t like the regret I see in his eyes when they fall back upon me. “You’re being called before The Tribunal, Mercedes.”

I don’t know if it’s the floor or my stomach that drops out as his words register. “What?”

“I thought we handled everything,” he says quietly. “But it appears there’s some evidence we didn’t know about. It’s been brought forward, and we have to go deal with this.”

“Oh, my God.” I nearly choke on the words, shaking my head as nausea unfurls in my gut.

“It’s going to be okay,” Judge tells me through clenched teeth, but even I can hear he doesn’t know that for certain.

“What evidence?” I whisper. “What do they know?”

“You really should have told her.” Santi frowns. “We don’t have much time. We’ll explain in the car. Is that what you’re wearing?”

His eyes move over my flared baby doll dress, and I force a stiff nod. It’s not my usual style at all, but it hides my curves, and he seems glad for it.

“That’s good,” Santi says approvingly. “You look… innocent.”

His tone implies I’m far from it, but I don’t have the energy to respond. I can barely think as they guide me out to the waiting car and help me inside. So many thoughts swirl around my mind that my head feels like it’s going to explode.

I can’t believe Judge didn’t tell me about this. And on that note, why the hell didn’t Santi? A deranged laugh almost bursts from my lips as I even consider it. Of course, they didn’t tell me. Because this is how Society men are. They handle everything as they see fit. Everyone else be damned. If I actually expected anything else, I’m delusional.