Page 16 of Fierce-Colson

“That’s your win. You know as well as I do that going to trial doesn’t guarantee your win.”

“I had his balls in a vise.” She could drop her wall and talk any way she wanted to with her mother because no one was around to witness it.

To say it wasn’t professional, political or even ladylike.

What she needed more than anything was to be human.

Not the robot that she often performed as at for her job.

She knew going in, any political office meant her life had to be under a microscope.

What little life she’d have because of that microscope.

Because men she dated weren’t strong enough to handle it.

To handle her.

Not that she needed or wanted a man to handle her, but it’d be nice to have one who could hold their own under the pressure.

They didn’t make men like her father or brother in her eyes.

Or no one that she could find.

“Yes, you did. And he got guaranteed time with no shot at parole with your plea deal. There was no guarantee of time or a guilty verdict in a trial. We both knew what they were trying to do.”

“Without that witness, they were trying to find mistakes, mishandling of evidence, or loopholes to get the case thrown out,” she said. “I know.”

“And that is your win right there. You got the last victim to come forward. You. No one else. You.”

“I promised her he wouldn’t hurt another woman,” she said. “I never make those promises. I hated I had.”

And knew it was a risk to put it out there. She’d been warned not to do it by a few people.

“And by taking the plea, you got there faster. Take this win and get used to it. There are going to be a lot more just like it. Convictions matter, not how you get them.”

The rim of the glass went to her lips again.

“You sound like one of my professors now.”

“Because it’s the truth.”

“And it saved the county man hours and tax dollars.”

“Spoken like a true politician.”

“No, thank you.”

“You’re one and you know it. Just in a different way.”

Marly sighed. If there was one person she could be honest with, it was the woman she’d looked up to sitting in this room. “When is Dad coming home?”

“He said he’d be late. He’s doing something with Zander tonight. It’s just the two of us for dinner if you want to order.”

“That was going to be my suggestion. I’m craving fat and salt.”

“Chinese food with extra egg rolls?” her mother asked. “That was always your go-to when you had a craving for that time of the month.”

“Only if you’ve got chocolate or ice cream in the house to chase the fat.”