I didn’t say a word the whole time, and my lawyer arrived five minutes after me, and I got my hands out of the cuffs. “You know this is a bullshit case. I have seven eyewitnesses who say Mr. Woods threatened my client.”

He pushed and pushed, but the law was the law, and they couldn’t do anything until I saw a judge, and that was only happening at eight this morning.

They did give me five minutes with my father and Matthew, but the only thing I cared about was Caroline and Dylan. “Stay with them.” I looked at Matthew, and all he did was nod.

“Mr. Stone.” My name is called, and I stand up. “You’re up next.”

“Thank you,” I say and walk with him down the concrete hallway, and he stops at the big brown door.

“I’m sorry I have to do this,” he says, and I just nod at him and turn around to have him cuff me. I would do whatever they tell me to do if it gets me one step closer to Caroline and Dylan. I walk into the courthouse, and my eyes fly to the people in the room. All the men in my family fill the first row with my parents at the end. I make eye contact with Matthew, who just nods. I also notice a couple of reporters in there, and I roll my eyes.

“All you have to say when they ask you is not guilty. Your bail is set to be posted, so it’ll be right after he calls out the number. We have a car waiting for you,” my lawyer says. “I’m not going to lie, though. The press got a hold of the story.”

“I don’t give a shit. I need to get home,” I say, and we stand in front of the judge. When the district attorney starts reading the charges, I almost want to snort when they call Andrew the victim.

The judge asks me how I plead, and I finally speak. “Not guilty, Your Honor.” He sets the bail, and I don’t even hear how much nor do I care. When he hits the gavel, I look at my lawyer, and he looks at the DA, who nods his head. “Go.”

I walk to my family, and my mother gets up and walks next to me with my father on her side, and Matthew on my other side. Max, Viktor, and Evan walk in front of us. “Caroline?” I ask Matthew. He avoids eye contact, and my stomach sinks. My mother grabs my hand, and I look at her. She tries to pretend she is okay, but she just shakes her head.