The Revenge (The Insiders Trilogy #3)(87)

“Quinn and I have never gotten along.”

“How so?”

“She’s not a good person.”

“Objection!”

The two sides argued over this point until the judge sighed and asked Payton to keep her personal opinion of her sister from her answers. “Only facts, Miss Callas. That would be more helpful.”

She nodded, her eyes earnest. “Okay, well then … fact. My sister would lock me in the closet when she wanted to spend time with her friends.”

“Objectio—”

The judge raised his hand. “She can testify. It’s why you called her here.” He nodded to Payton. “Proceed.”

“Fact.” She didn’t miss a beat. “Our father was a gambler. He was old-school. To pay off his debt, he sent Quinn and myself to live in Greece with someone, and when we were there, Quinn became a big partier. That’s when she’d lock me in a closet, but…” Her mouth parted and she faltered.

“But what, Miss Callas?”

Payton’s eyes were glued to Quinn now. “But…” She blinked rapidly and her head raised up. “But I think she did it somewhat to protect me.”

Quinn’s lawyer had started to stand, but hearing the rest, he sat back down.

The DA glanced over, her eyebrows up. “Protect you from whom, Miss Callas?”

“From the men who were there where we were staying.”

Oh no.

I got it.

It was all coming together, and I slid down in the bench.

I didn’t think I wanted to hear this.

My stomach began tightening up, knotting.

“Miss Callas, whose place was it that you and your sister were staying at?”

She didn’t answer.

A look came over her. It was a slow slide, and her eyes closed, but I saw it. Everyone saw it. Terror. I knew who she was going to say, but for a moment I didn’t think she was going to do it. It was all leading there, to him .

“Calhoun Bas—”

“Objection! This line of questioning has nothing to do with Ms. Callas’s case. I move for the entire line of questioning to be stricken and tossed out.”

The DA didn’t waste time, either. She shot back, “Miss Callas was brought as their witness. They opened the line of questioning by asking about her relationship with the defendant. I think it bears exploration, Your Honor.”

The judge was silent, taking in both lawyers before his gaze searched the room.

He found me, his eyes narrowed. His head raised. He was scanning the entire room.

Matt leaned over, whispering, “I think he’s looking for Kash.”

Right. My lover, who was now “on the run,” though I hadn’t had time to digest that, either. I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t respond.

“I’m going to allow it.”

“Your Honor!”

He raised his hand up, silencing the defense. “I want to see where this goes.” He nodded to Payton. “Keep going, Miss Callas, but bailiff, I’d like more security guards added to the room.”

Two men left the room and Payton closed her eyes.

“Miss Callas.” His tone was gentle.

She opened her eyes.

He nodded, his entire demeanor softening. “You’re safe. You can say what you need to say in here.”

Her head dipped in an abrupt nod back, her eyes glistening. She closed them, then reopened them, and she swiped at her cheek quickly before leaning forward.

She started, and once she got going, she told everything.

She and Quinn were “sold” to Calhoun when they were young.

They were raised in Calhoun’s main house, but he treated them almost as if they were his daughters .

Quinn had been angry, rebellious. She partied, acted out.

Not Payton. She withdrew.

She learned that Quinn had begun working for Calhoun. She was taken from the home and she didn’t see her sister for two years.

“Where did you see your sister again?”

“In California.”

The DA’s head straightened at that information.

Even the judge looked shocked.

Payton continued, “I was sent to live with her, but Calhoun asked me to watch her.”

A chair scraped against the floor over at Quinn’s table. There was a hissing sound, and the judge fixed them with a glare. “Silence, Ms. Callas. Counsel, control your client.”

He gave Payton another nod.

“She—uh—Quinn was different when I went to live with her. She was more smooth, I guess. More seductive. We lived there for a few years, and that’s when she met Peter Francis.” She stopped, a sudden stricken look coming over her. She jerked back in her seat.

“Miss Callas?” This from the DA. “How was your sister when she met Peter Francis?”

“Um, my relationship with my sister was almost nonexistent once she married Peter. I remained behind in California and she moved to Chicago to be with him.”

“Miss Callas, weren’t you instructed to watch your sister for Mr. Bastian?”

“I was, but Quinn wouldn’t let me come with her, and Calhoun never contacted me. I don’t think he really put much stock in me.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because he never did. He only gave Quinn attention.” Her cheeks got red and her head ducked down briefly. “She’s prettier than me. That’s mostly all Calhoun cared about, a woman’s looks. ”