Chapter 7
Dominic’s trial began six months later.
Clara was seven months pregnant by then.
Her belly was round beneath a simple blue dress.
Her bruise had faded.
But the memories had not.
She took the witness stand with her hand resting lightly over the baby.
Dominic watched her from the defense table.
He looked angry.
He looked afraid.
But Clara did not look away.
She told the jury how he isolated her.
How he took her money.
How he threatened her.
How he told her nobody would believe her because he owned the police.
Then the prosecutor played the wiretap recordings.
The courtroom heard Dominic order people to bring Clara back.
They heard him discuss corrupt officers.
They heard him threaten me.
Helena testified for her son.
She called Clara emotional.
She called me vindictive.
Then the prosecutor showed messages proving Helena had helped Dominic monitor Clara’s phone and cancel her credit cards.
The jury saw the truth.
May you like
Not a powerful family under attack.
A criminal family protecting abuse.
