Guarded: Sequal to Broken

Twenty

Sam wants answers as soon as I take my seat beside him again, but I shake my head, following Howard's instructions. Alice takes the seat to my left, Claire beside her, Sam again asking with his eyes about the women, to which I again shakes my head. I don't trust myself to talk right now. I have to concentrate on staying strong as Chris is about to enter the room.

The last time I was in the same room as him he killed my mom, a thought that persistently echoes around the inside of my skull. What I would give to have Calum's protective arm around my shoulders, his mumbled words of strength in my ear, and a firm kiss just above my temple. Fuck, I miss him. He really was holding me together through this... but he isn't going to walk into the room now. I saw the paparazzi photos of him arriving back in LA last night. I know he's home, and heartbroken.

It's slightly surreal as the judge calls for Chris to be brought in. My mind checking out a little bit, avoiding the eyes I've sees far too often in my nightmares. Listening as the state case is resolved, my body goes cold and numb as the judge speaks the words I knew were coming. Feeling Sammy start to shake as he hears them for the first time. I'd spared him the panic of knowing before now, wanting his mind to be less troubled as long as possible.

I try to listen as the three lawyers bring our case before the judge, praying for a miracle, praying he gets sent back to prison until we can bring forward our evidence and statements against him. Unfortunatly it isn't the case. He's being released tonight, to a halfway house outside Seattle. He has to report to a Sponser and a parole agent bi-weekly for the next month, and then weekly until further notice. The next court date for the new case against him is being set for January 6th.

"Mads." Sam turns to me, panic written across his usually warm eyes.

"We have a plan. Come on." I whisper, slipping my hand into his and following my aunts from the room behind the lawyers.

"You knew? You knew this was going to happen?" Sam asks with a trembling voice.

"Yes."

"Did, did Calum...?" Sam asks. I squeeze my eyes shut, nodding curtly as I drag him towards the old Jeep Grams and Gramps drove out yesterday.

"Andrea's office now." Howard calls to me as I slip behind the wheel.

"We'll meet you there." I nod at him, double checking my family is all safely seatbelted in before pulling out.

"What now, Madison?" Grams asks softly.

"We are going to Arizona. We will be staying in a small town with my aunts, staying offline except for football things if needed. My hair will be blonde by tomorrow night. And we are fighting this. We are working to get him charged with attempted murder, and child abuse. We are going off the grid."

"What about Calum, Mads? Chris will go for him and you know that." Sam is clearly panicking.

"Howard will contact him, he has a whole security team, and he's headed on tour in February. He won't be in the country as of the 15th of December and only back for a short few weeks in January. He's no longer part of my life and hopefully that helps too."

"Did you break up with him to try and protect him? And he let you? Something about that seems off, Mads. You're lying about something to me and I hate that."

"The less you know the better. The less everyone knows the better. You three are flying out as soon as possible with my aunts. I have to go through LA and collect my possessions from Calum's house and I'll meet you in Arizona tomorrow night."

"You have a whole plan already set?" Gramps chuckles lightly.

"We had to. It's the only way to keep us safe."

"I don't feel safe." Sam sighs.

"Neither do I. But small town in a random place sounds a hell of a lot safer than Spokane or LA where he could find us."

"I can't believe they let him walk..." Sam sighs, leaning against the window.

"He's getting a taste of freedom, but it won't be a long one. We'll get him or he slips up. Remember, any alcohol he is caught with reinforces his original sentence. That or even more concrete, if he stays sober, and still lashes out at someone. They won't be able to let him off on a sober promise if he is still evil sober."

"Let's just pray he doesn't kill someone this time." Sam mumbles.

"We can hope." I jump as my phone buzzes in the cup holder as I pull into the office parking lot.

I grab it after parking. Seeing two texts on the screen.

Cal
I'm sorry he's free.
I'm always here for
you Mads. I promise,
and I love you...

I ignore that one, the pain in my chest growing as I tap the one from KayKay.

Kaykay
okay talk. What is
going on and why
did you end things
with Cal? It doesn't
make any sense.

I close my eyes as I read it. Turning my phone on Airplane mode as I climb out. Leading my family to the building, and on to the next phase of the hell this trial has become.

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What now????

Chris is a free man!!!

What is going to happen????

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I love you guys so much!!!!

~M =)