Convicted (Consequences)

me.”
    “I have rules, Claire.” He gently pushed her wet hair away from her face. “Can you follow my rules?”
    Avoiding eye contact, she nodded.
    Abruptly, he raised her chin. “Don’t look away. I asked you a question. I expect an answer.”
    “Yes, I can follow your rules.”
    “Rule number one is to do as I say. I suggest you learn to follow that rule, if you want to make the best of this.”
    Keeping her eyes downcast, her shoulders quaked as she silently sobbed. Once again, his hand struck her cheek.
    “I told you not to look away.”
    Her eyes immediately flashed toward his. Instantaneously, the clouds returned as pools of tears spilled onto her cheeks. “I’ll do as you say; please stop hitting me.”
     
    The memories made Tony’s stomach turn. Of course, none of that was in Claire’s testimony. The GHB hid those memories from her, as well as other memories of the things he did during that flight and once they returned to Iowa.
    Her testimony picked up the next day, when the drug was fully out of her system. It wasn’t until then that she started to understand the magnitude of her situation; nevertheless, the truth hit Tony between the eyes. Perspiration drenched his face and the illness he’d felt in the pit of his empty stomach erupted into full blown nausea. No matter what he did to make Claire’s life better or show her he’d changed, these memories would always linger in the recesses of his mind. For the rest of his life, he’d know what he’d done.
    Tony hated himself for all of it—hell, he always had the end justifies the means argument, but even he didn’t believe that anymore. Not now. Not now that he knew Claire and loved Claire. The thought of someone doing to her what he’d done filled him with rage. If it were another person whom she described, Tony would want him dead. He’d leave no stone unturned to make him pay for his sins.
    Tears coated his cheeks before he realized Brent was standing right in front of him.
    “I take it you’ve read Claire’s testimony?”
    Tony nodded. He didn’t want Brent knowing about this. Now Courtney would know. He should deny it and argue—but the image of Claire—not from her testimony—but from his memory—on his plane, wrapped in that towel, trembling and scared—wouldn’t let him lie.
    “If the shit in that binder’s true, you’re one sick bastard”—Brent turned a circle—“I’m your personal attorney and friend. Tell me what we’re up against.”
    Tony remained silent, his eyes so clouded with memories he could barely see the room around him.
    “Damn it, Tony!” The table vibrated with the slap of Brent’s hand as his fury and anger filled the air. “Tell me the truth!”
    The ferocity within the room grew as Tony’s anguish also began to build. Springing from the chair, he pushed past Brent and paced. “Where the hell did they get this? What the fuck does it mean? Is Claire alive? Do they know where she is? Did she press charges? Is that what this whole damn day is about?”
    Brent seized Tony’s shoulders, as he demanded. “Fuck’n tell me if it’s true.”
    Never had Brent spoken to Tony with that tone. Tony couldn’t help but retaliate, “Let go of me, or I swear to God I’ll punch you in the face!”
    “Do it! Do it! Go ahead. Then maybe I’ll understand more of what Claire endured.”
    Tony staggered backward. Brent’s words cut deeper than any knife and were more painful than a fist to the jaw. “It was before”—Tony’s fight evaporated as his knees buckled against the chair—“It was a long time ago. Things are, or were, different—this time. I didn’t have anything to do with her recent disappearance.”
    Brent fell into a chair and fought to control his words. Finally, he asked, “So, you’re telling me this is true? You did this shit to a woman you claimed to love—a woman you married—a woman you charged with attempted murder and later wanted to reconcile with? You did this sick-ass-shit to the mother of your child ?”
    “No!” Tony stared at Brent. He felt the black fill his eyes as red filled his vision. “I’m not saying that. I’d never do that to the mother of my child or the woman I was reconciling with . Like I said—it was different.” He rubbed the stubble on his cheeks. Suddenly, his face weighed too much for his neck. Tony collapsed against the back of the chair allowing his head to rest against the cinderblock wall. “The only person, who