Dice’s POV

„Wake up...” I felt his lips brushing against my shoulder, his hand sliding down my side. I grumbled sleepily as his fingers traced up and down my hip, barely touching my skin. No, I didn’t want to wake up, I was still exhausted. It felt like I had just closed my eyes, there’s no way I had slept more than an hour, but then again that could be precisely how long I’d slept, knowing who and what had kept me up all night. I buried my face in the pillow, letting the cloud of pink hair fall over my face. I still couldn’t understand how he could do what no one else could. „Baby, wake up...” He cooed against my skin sweetly, his teeth now grazing my shoulder.

„Don’t drool all over me...” I mumbled, my voice throaty, feeling his chest shaking in silent laughter to my words. This wasn’t something I’d ever do, believe it or not, I’ve never once woken up to a man sleeping beside me. Usually I initiated my ghost mode and crept away silently, without the guy even knowing I was gone, before it was too late. Or simply just climbed back to the front passenger seat. When I was with Corey? MJ’s brother? We didn’t live together, so even when I had sex with him, I didn’t stay over afterwards, so Matt could feel special. And how special did he make me feel.

His lips were trailing down my ribs, tickling my side with the gentle touch. The bed creaked underneath as he shifted his weight to his arms, hovering over me. For the whole month I was gone, I could still feel his smell lingering on me and once I was walking down the street in Vegas, a guy with the same cologne as Matt wore passed me by and I couldn’t bare, but wonder what and where he was doing. The memories washing over me and my decisions hurting me endlessly, but not anymore. Now it was... perfect.

„What’s the... time?” My eyes flustered open and the first thing I saw were Matt’s broad tattooed shoulders and those strong arms on the each side of me. The morning sun was shining through the big windows, making him look almost angelic. M. Shadows... I smirked. No. Not Shadows. Matt Sanders. I rolled on my back under him, his lips now firmly pressed on my stomach.

„Seven...” He said in between the kisses, digging his own way down to China. Seven... I rested my forearm on my forehead, looking over the white ceiling. When did the trial start exactly?

„Shit—„ I pushed him off me and jumped out of the bed, trying to find my underwear on the white carpet, seeing only my top, my grey skirt and... I picked up what used to be my underwear, showing the thorn lace to Matt. „What the hell is this?”

He frowned, now pulling his pants up his legs, before he looked up and narrowed his eyes on the torn fabric, a sly smirk mirroring on his face. He said nothing, only chuckled lightly.

„Oh that’s so not funny, Sanders,” I squinted my eyes, putting at least my bra on, so my nipples wouldn’t greet the judge and I wouldn’t be kicked out of the court room, since my top was super-duper not see through. Note the sarcasm. I was ready in about ten seconds, without panties and probably gonna flash someone sometime today, but I had to roll with what I had. And right now I had a bare ass. Thanks to certain someone.

„You didn’t bring any clothes with you?” He asked, pulling his shirt over his head as I bent down at my suitcase and fished out a hair band to make tame a bit of the birds nest that was my hair and make it in a low pony tail.

I shot him a confused glance, „No? I was just planning on spending a single night here and leave right after the trial. A night which didn’t include someone ripping my underwear off my body.” Thank you very much for that.

„All your stuff’s in Vegas?” He questioned with a small wrinkle between his brows.

„Yeah,” I sighed, slipping my feet into the heels.

It seemed like he was considering something for a moment, before he spoke, „I can get a couple days off studio, we can drive to get whatever you left behind.”

I shot him a wide eyed look. „Drive? As in spending countless hours in a fucking car?” I shook my head frantically. Nah, I’m not gonna drive to Vegas, that was a good four hour drive, done it once, not doing it ever again.

„Well it depends how much you—„

„Just clothes.” I rushed my answer, „I’m sure I can fly there on my own and then just—„

„No,” he said sternly, „Like hell I’m letting you go there on your own.”

„Don’t you trust me?” I frowned as he walked up to me.

He smirked and mouthed a simple, „no.”

...what? Now I’m just confused. I could manage on my own, for crying out loud! I didn’t need a babysitter!

„I know you,” He leaned in to give me a light peck on the lips,

„Then if you know me, you should have a little faith in me,”

„That’s exactly why I don’t trust you.” He smiled, taking my briefcase from me and walking towards the door, leaving me gaping after him. ...Excuse me? „Come on, Gates called while you were sleeping and told MJ’s already flipping out.”

Oh right, MJ... I couldn’t imagine what it was for her to realize she’ll have to sit there and look the scumbag in the eye, not sure of what the outcome will be, but I knew. I was very determined to get the bastard behind bars and I’ll be damned if anyone will cross my way with all the evidence I got on him. Not even that shitty state attorney could defend him, ‘cause man, if I did something, I did it with a bang. And I was willing to do everything that was in my power to get him where he belonged. On his knees and sucking a dick of some inmate. That would teach him a lesson.

It was after a considerable time when we pulled up to the court house and I was already reaching for my wallet, but Matt turned out to be quicker. „I won’t allow you to pay for everything, you know that right?”

„Puh-lease.” He slapped my ass as I was getting out of the cab, „You love it when I pay for you.” Actually? It was true. But I was a classy broad and I couldn’t shout that out loud, could I? The ride was awfully long, but maybe the feeling was strictly based on me being late and Matt asking me hard bitch ass questions like – where did I live in Vegas; how I provided myself and lastly if I’m returning to Johnny’s Saloon. I mean, hold your fucking horses, okay? I hadn’t even agreed to coming back, sure I may act like I had, but I still had to sort some stuff back in Vegas. For example mister Jay the Humble. I took a deep breath just imagining what a bitch ass conversation it’s gonna be when I’ll spill everything.

As I stepped in to the heat, I noticed each Avenged member looking more like shit than the other. A silent snicker fell over my lips. Well, someone partied it up last night. Jimmy was still rocking back and forth and I didn’t believe he’d take those sunglasses off even when it would hit evening. Both Zack and Syn were chugging on their Vento Starbucks shit’s in a cup, Johnny was the most red eyed I had ever seen someone be and MJ was anxiously biting on her knuckles.

„’Morning,” I smiled enclosing on the gang, MJ’s eyes instantly shooting up to me. She looked the most stressed out I’ve ever seen her. And then she pulled me aside, staring at me with a very intense look to her blues. I frowned. „What?”

„You didn’t answer my calls...” Oh, that... I was a bit preoccupied per say. And now I’m feeling like a complete asshole, yet again. Ain’t that nice.

„Yea, sorry about that. But why are you so worked up?” I frowned.

„Y-you have to call it off,” She practically stammered out and if it wouldn’t be for my lip reading abilities, I wouldn’t have comprehended what the fuck she just said to me, ‘cause she rushed it out so fucking fast.

„Hold up... Call it off? Are you insane? The trial starts in ten fucking minutes,” I frowned while trying to reason with her.

„But we didn’t even go through my statement,” That was a shitty argument to throw in the battlefield and I knew the whole reason was someone being very intimidating with her. „You can call in sick or something...”

„Just... Just relax, okay?” My hands rested on her forearms, stroking them in a calming manner, „I’ve got that shit under control, don’t you?”

Even tho she gave me a nod, I know she didn’t believe me and I really wanted to know what was behind it all. Had she met Malcolm already? However, not my problem, since MJ’s now under Syn’s protective wing and I’ll be sure to fucking kill him if he as much as places a finger on her. I stepped back and headed towards the Avenged boy scouts. „Gentlemen, let’s head in.” I smiled right before Matt pulled me in a hug.

His lips crashed against mine and I wouldn’t be lying if I said I got a bit weak to my knees, forgetting where we were and what we were doing here. Tho the joy was short lived. He pulled away with a warm smile, „That’s for good luck. Now go and kick some ass.”

„I will,” I smirked and headed for the entrance, suddenly Syn appearing by my side.

„Please tell me you’ve had at least an hour of sleep and you have your head in the game,” Whoa, buddy, where those assumptions are coming from?

„Chill-the-fuck-ax, Gates. I did have my sleep.” Only a bit more than hour, so I wasn’t completely lying to him. „And my head is in the game, thank you for the consideration.”

„I’m just... I want the asshole behind bars.” Don’t we all?

„Look, I’ll see what I can do, but either way we’re getting something for him, okay?”

„Okay.” He nodded, „Good luck.”

As soon as I walked in the court room and Brian nearly dragged MJ in, right where she fucking belonged, he took his seat along with the rest of the Avenged thugs right behind our backs. I couldn’t bare, but look at my right to see Malcolm listening to whatever his attorney had to say to him with a clenched jaw. Didn’t seem too good, if you ask me, but what did I understand out of this, right? I’m just an ex bartender. Tho I couldn’t miss the disapprooving look of the judge when she walked in and spotted me. Oh hey, I’ve seen her before... I had a case with her hearing it. And I fucking lost. That bitch. So maybe this was a sign? No... no signs. I’m gonna win this... For MJ.

Actually I wasn’t even listening to what the judge was saying after she proclaimed the start of the trial, or so I thought, I wasn’t sure. I was reliving the night with Matt in my head and oh how I longed for that thick, hard co—

„Miss Reed, I do not quite understand, what are you willing to receive out of the trial. You could get the restraining order without wasting yours and mine precious time.” The judge narrowed her eyes on me and I not only sat up straight in my seat, beside the grumpy MJ who was probably hating me right now, but even stood up, fixing my skirt so I won’t be showing anything, before I cleared my throat.

„I do know that, your honor, but I’m not here for the restraining order. I’m here to get 15 years to life imprisonment for Malcolm Knoxville.” Douchebag’s lawyer jerked his head to look at me with a deep frown, as for Malcolm himself? He just scoffed.

„Excuse me? Are you thinking the Domestic Violence Arrest?” She shifted in her seat. „If that’s so - on what evidence? It came in to my notice that your client Mia Johnson wanted to drop charges today. Right before the trial.” The judge stated matter of factly. She... what? I sent an ‘are you fucking kidding me, right now’ look to the blondie. She clearly was fucking insane. I took a deep breath and shifted my attention back to the judge.

„My client is inadequate of making her own decisions. Both of them are,” I replied confidently, knowing MJ was now burning a hole in my back. You heard me right, you go behind my back – I insult you. That’s how we’ll roll from now.

„Has a psychiatrist approved it?” She asked, ignoring the last part of my sentence.

„No,” I said and noticed that little victorious grin on both the judge’s face and Malcolm’s, „However the reason behind saying Mia Johnson is inadequate is because Malcolm Knoxville has threatened her to do so. My client can be very easily intimidated, knowing about her medical history of numerous anxiety attacks and the simple emotional instability.” In other words – she was fucking crazy.

„So your willing to get a sentence of imprisonment for mister Knoxville...” The judge stated, looking almost bored to death. Come on... Where’s the thrill of the fight, huh?

„That’s precisely what I want.” I smirked.

„This is his first assault,” She frowned, looking over his file. No, it’s not...

„That’s not true, your honor. He’s been on probation already before as you can see in the attachment. Malcolm Knoxville was sent to Domestic Violence counseling three years ago, when his girlfriend of the time, Stacy Lovelace, filed in the form for the protective order. And Stacy Lovelace in this case is my second client.” The judge looked at me like I was the one with slight mental disorder problems. I was waiting for that to be completely honest. Every lawyer who shows up to trial with pink hair has to be mental, but not this time.

„Hmm... The charges were dropped and the order cancelled,” She said thoughtfully, reading through the statements.

„Yes, that’s true. Four months after receiving the protective order, Stacy Lovelace, dropped everything and claimed she had falsified her statement,” I admitted, stepping out from behind the table.

„So then there’s no assault,” The judge gave me the brow.

A small smirk pulled at my lips, „Stacy Lovelace went missing three days after the protective order had been cancelled and Malcolm Knoxville was no longer on probation.”

„You’re implying mister Knoxville killed Stacy Lovelace?” Was someone gasping somewhere in the room? Well, they fucking should be.

„Objection!” Malcolm’s attorney shouted. „My client has nothing to do with the disappearance of Stacy Lovelace.” Was it just me or Malcolm seemed not to give a single flying shit about anything? The attorney looked more stressed out than the douche bag himself.

„Objection denied,” The judge said, „Continue, miss Reed.”

„Dice, what are you doing?” MJ whispered being absolutely petrified. Not without a reason, tho. Finding out her ex boyfriend is a killer? Hell, even I’d be a bit taken aback. Tho she should’ve figured that a long ass time ago. I pulled out another file from my portfolio and stepped forward to hand it to the judge.

„Stacy Lovelace was found dead in Los Angeles. A severe head trauma, but that wasn’t the reason of her death. She died by three deep knife stabs in the chest area after she had been sexually abused. The investigation was never started.”

„Why is that?” The judge frowned, paging the file.

„That’s simple. The evidence disappeared along with the file of Stacy Lovelace. I’m here to speak on her behalf, since that was the will of her family, if that’s fine by you, your honor.” She gestured for me to carry on, her eyes still on the folder. „Stacy Lovelace’s case was never filed, because the file and the evidence was labeled under lost. The officer who was responsible for starting the investigation is Christian Knoxville. The father of Malcolm Knoxville.”

The court room went completely silent.

„I’m here to get a restraining order for Mia Johnson and charge Malcolm Knoxville with second degree murder.”

Finally the judge raised her eyes up to me and for a moment she didn’t say anything. „Okay miss Reed,” the judge nodded, „Your requisiton will be taken notice of. The trial is being reschedueled to a date that is a month from now. Malcolm Knoxville is being taken into custody with an option of being released on bail of five thousand dollars. Case dismissed until further notice.”

Wait... what? Only five fucking thousand dollars?!

Notes