Wade sat in his apartment thinking about the beginning of the trial the next day. He had hoped Tricia would be too scared to testify but now that didn't seem like the case. He told his lawyer to do everything he could to convince the jury it was consensual sex with her. He couldn't go to jail.
He laid down on his bed and thought back to the night he had attacked her. It was perfect. And despite that he was forcing her, she was by the far the best one he'd had. Much better than Kaitlyn. He had watched Tricia for weeks before he made his move. He watched her go to work and to the gym. He watched as she dated and he knew who her exes were. He had plan his attack carefully. He couldn't do it while she was with another guy. He smiled as he thought to the attack. He had made his point and now he just had finish it. By beating the charges against him. And once that happened, Chris Irvine would be destroyed.
Tricia was up before everyone the next day. She showered and got dressed for court. She went into the kitchen and realized that Chris had no coffee. She sighed and walked to the sofa where Jon was. She shook him awake.
"Is something wrong?" He asked waking up.
"No. I just want some coffee and Chris is out. So, can you come with me to the coffee shop since I'm not suppose to go alone?"
"Yeah. Give me a minute to shower and change." He headed to the bathroom and quickly got ready. "Alright. Let's go." She nodded and they headed out to the nearby coffee shop.
Quinn woke up and realized Chris's arms were around her waist. She turned to face him and was flooded with memories of when she'd wake up in his arms when they were together. And how good it felt to have his arms around her again. She ran her hand softly over his cheek, unable to resist the urge to touch his face the way she had so many times before and his eyes fluttered open.
"Morning." He said looking at her.
"Good morning." She replied. "We should get up. I'm sure Jon and Tricia are up. The trial starts today and I'm sure she's nervous."
"She's not the only one." He looked at her. "Yes, I'm nervous too. I just hate that she will have to face Wade. But I guess she needs to right?"
"To move on yes she does. And I think everyone will see that he raped her. There are pictures and DNA."
"Yeah but he and his lawyer are still going with it was consensual rough sex."
"Well Tricia's exes will put an end to that."
"You have an answer for everything."
"Just how it is." She smiled. "Now, let's go get some breakfast and head to the court house."
They both got up and headed to the kitchen. "Where's Tricia?" Chris asked.
"I don't know." Quinn replied. They looked all around the apartment and didn't find her.
"Where could she be? Something has happened to her."
"Relax, Jon is gone too. So I'm sure he is with her"
Just then the front door opened and Tricia and Jon walked into the apartment. Chris walked over to them. "Where the hell were you? I was worried. You don't just leave and not tell me where."
"You were out of coffee so we went and got some at the coffee house." Jon replied. "I texted Quinn and told her and I'm sure Tricia texted you. Did either of you check your phone?"
"No." Chris said.
"Don't worry. I'm here to protect her. I take that seriously. I'd never let anything happen to her."
Chris sighed. "I know but I just worry about her."
"I'm right here in the room, you know." Tricia said to them.
"We know." Chris replied. "Now, we better get dressed and head to the court house."
"I'm hoping in the shower." Quinn said as she headed to the bathroom.
"I'm sorry you were worried." Tricia said to her brother.
"It's alright. I better go get ready too." He walked to the bedroom and got his clothes out for court.
Once they were all dressed, they headed to the court house. Randy was waiting out front for them.
"Are you ready for this?" He asked Tricia.
"As ready as I will be I guess."
"Just relax and stick to the truth and everything will be fine."
"I hope so."
"It will. Now, we have gone over your testimony so you're ready. Let's go in and put Wade where he belongs." They all nodded and walked into court.
Tricia sat behind the prosecution table with Chris and Quinn on one side and Jon on the other. She looked behind her and saw Justin, Dwayne, and Alex sitting there. She smiled and turned her attention back to the front. She tensed up when she saw Wade being escorted into the room. He looked over at her, his eyes devoid of emotion.
She felt Chris take her hand. "Don't worry. He can't hurt you." He whispered as the judge came in.
"All rise. The honorable Shawn Michaels presiding."
"Be seated." He said as he sat down. "Case Number 5485DS State of New York Vs. Wade Barrett on charges of rape, assault and breaking and entering. Mr. Barrett plead not guilty at pretrial. So, we will start with opening arguments. Mr. Orton, you may proceed."
"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Barrett is a danger to society. He has been arrested before and charged with various crimes. And it is because of those crimes we are here today. Mr. Barrett had a personal vendetta against Assistant District Attorney Chris Irvine. And as a result of that vendetta, he stalked, raped and viciously beat Mr. Irvine's sister Tricia." Randy said as he addressed the jury. "Tricia Irvine is the innocent victim in this. Before this attack, she had never met Mr. Barrett. Did she know who he was? Of course. All of New York City does. But she had never met him or had anything to do with him. She was attacked by Mr. Barrett purely because she happens to be Mr. Irvine's sister. I ask the jury to listen during this trial and you will hear the horrible things Mr. Barrett did to this young woman. And I know you will find that he deserves to be in prison for this assault. Thank you."
"Mr. Cole, your turn."
"The prosecution's supposed allegations are unfounded. The truth is that Mr. Barrett and Ms. Irvine met at the gym, went back to her place and engaged in rough consensual sex that got out of hand. When Mr. Barrett wouldn't commit to a relationship, she decided to cry rape." He said as he walked to the jury box. "Ms. Irvine isn't the innocent victim that the prosecution makes her out to be. She likes the rough sex. And when she and Mr. Barrett met at the gym, she realized he liked it too. So she wasted no time in taking him back to her place. Where they engaged in all kinds of rough, kinky sex. And it merely got out of hand. We will prove that no rape took place. What occurred between them was consensual on both parts. Mr. Barrett's only crime here was picking an obviously unstable liar as a sex partner. He's guilty of nothing."
"Thank you Mr. Cole. Mr. Orton, your first witness please."
"I call Tricia Irvine to the stand."
Tricia walked to the stand and was sworn in. She took her seat and tried not to look at Wade. She just wanted this over with. She took a deep breath and got prepared to answered questions.