Stella
How did we get here? I will tell you how we got here! After months of conversations with the Paralegal for the legal team, Halliburton & Kilpatrick, that Courage Federal bank hired we are at trial. I tried to mediate this matter, but they refused. They were so cocky that a woman without a legal degree would not be able to defend her family from predatory banking practices. My whole life I have been underestimated. This will just be another instance where I show the world, I will not be bullied. Money may run the world, but it will never run me. I may not have a legal degree but, I am a certified genius. That is not ego, I have the test results to prove it. I also have hyperthymesia, which due to HIPPA the legal counsel will not know. Which is why I am now sitting at this table in this huge courtroom about to defend my family against one of the biggest law firms in Houston. I am Stella Bellona Crown, and I am here to win.
Cahir
How did we get here? I will tell you how we got here! Stella Fucking Crown just wouldn’t go away! It’s been months, she held her ground though. Even though, we didn’t even give her any face time. Every time she tried to schedule a meeting we sent the paralegal. We gave the paralegal orders to deny every settlement offer they brought to the table. This lawsuit was nonsense! They owed the bank and when money was deposited into the account, the bank took it to pay the debt. Now, she might have a leg to stand on since the bank also took money out of her ex-husbands account to pay the debt. The bank also screwed up when they took her daughter’s money she got from FEMA for hurricane recovery. But, if we can get the original claim that they bank was predatory thrown out, all the other cases will follow. She didn’t know that though. Stella Crown is not a lawyer! She was a Navy veteran who was currently writing her second romantic suspense book who I am going to demolish in court. I, Cahir Soul Kilpatrick, have never lost a case. This case was going to be like taking candy from a baby. I walked out of the office to the courtroom.
“Kilpatrick, you sure you don’t want Darren to sit second chair?” My boss Jagger Halliburton asked. I looked at him like he was stupid. First, Darren was an idiot that was hired because his father was my bosses best friend. All I ever saw him do is scroll through social media and post dance videos on company time. So, no... I did not want Darren to sit in the second chair. I didn’t want, scratch that, I didn’t need anybody to sit in the second chair. “I got this boss! I should be in an out.” I said as I jumped on the elevator. I was not in an out, Stella Fucking Crown ruined my life in more ways than one. I was not prepared.
Stella
We walked into the courtroom, and I immediately went into panic mode. What the hell was I doing? I am not a lawyer, how am I going to win this? I came to this only asking for Courage Federal Bank to make us whole. Due to their predatory nature, I wanted them to clear all my debts with them, give my ex his money back with the overdraft charges that the bank taking his money had caused and for them to give my daughter back her money. For months, I had been trying to get Halliburton & Kilpatrick to agree to that and they kept saying no. So, I came up with a contingency plan just in case they didn’t agree to it today. I was going to ask for five million dollars for pain and suffering. Well, I read up on how much I could request for pain and suffering in this case and that was the max. The door to the courtroom opened and I turned to see who was entering. Why did I do that? Cahir fucking Kilpatrick strolled into the courtroom in a navy-blue Tom Ford tailored suit, black Stacy Adams and a shiny black briefcase. His pictures did not do him justice! He strolled over to our table. I stood to shake his hand, because that is what people did before they went to war right? Did I mention that I am an author and not a lawyer?
He was huge. That is not really saying much, because I am only 5’4 everyone is huge to me. Now, don’t get me wrong I am not a small woman at all. Well, compared to him I was. I looked him right in the eye, showing no weakness, I kept telling myself. Clearly, that was the wrong thing to do. His eyes were this translucent hazel color with shiny gold flecks, face chiseled by the gods and a delicious bronze color. He must be mixed with something, Irish people don’t usually have melanin. His shoulders were so big, my first thought was what would it be like to throw my legs over them and sit on his face. Earth to Stella, this man is the enemy not the love interest in your next book. That didn’t stop me from glancing down to our connected hands and notice how his eclipsed mine. I also noticed he was still holding it, like he was taking as much inventory of me as I was him. Then my eyes rose slowly up his broad chest back to his face and landed on his very plush lips. They started to curl into a smile and every circuit in my brain went haywire at the same time. It should be a crime to be this attractive, but I had to remind myself that he had the ego to match. A low rumble of thunder filled the room. It was him! He was speaking “It is nice to meet you Ms. Crown.” I think I answered him before he tapped our table and went to his seat. Maybe I didn’t, I couldn’t get words to form in my brain…so I doubt any came out of my mouth. Cahir Kilpatrick commanded the room without ever uttering a word. We were never going to win this.
Cahir
I am screwed. I should have brought Darren along, if it wasn’t for anything else than to distract me from Stella fucking Crown. I looked her up before I came, even took this week to read her first book. Which was a huge mistake, because now I am imagining the shower scene with us as the main characters. If you ever tell anyone that, I will sue you and win. Most of her pictures online were from the neck up. Now, I see why! She would have more stalkers than she knew what to do with. Men would read the spicy stuff she puts in her books and think she really would like those things done to her. I was wondering if she really would like those things done to her.
With that body, I wanted to do those things to her. Stella Crown was 5’4 and built like a coke bottle. When she shook my hand, it felt so small in mine. While thinking about that, I took the time to peruse her body. She wore a tailored suit with a pencil skirt, and I desperately wanted to pull it up and bend her over her table. Her calves were toned, and she had on these black patent leather fuck me heels. I had to stop myself from picturing her legs on my shoulders with nothing on but them heels.
My eyes slowly came up to her body, stopped for a minute on her breasts which looked like pillows that would provide me with a much-needed rest. Moving back to her face, my eyes rested on her full lips that she only wore gloss on that I really wanted to lick off. I noticed that she didn’t wear much makeup, actually taking a closer look...she didn’t wear makeup at all. A natural beauty and clearly intelligent, a deadly combination and a distraction I didn’t need. I told her nice to meet her and music came out her mouth, well at least that is what it sounded like to me “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Kilpatrick. We are glad you could grace us with your presence today, considering you haven’t been at any of our other meetings.”
Sexy, sassy and smart...fuck me! I had to quickly tap the desk and move to my seat; my body was betraying me faster than my mind could think. Plus, that sassiness she just gave me made me hard and I wanted to go back and forth with her. Something told me that she could handle herself very well. Which only made me want to bend her over the table and fuck the sassiness right out of her. I have always loved a challenge, and she would be a great one. This case is mine and will be over soon though and I am never going to see Stella Crown again.
Me: Thank you for seeing us judge. We are here to request to be made whole by Courage Federal Bank. They used money that was deposited into my account to offset a credit card debt that I have with them. They did not allow me time to arrange a payment plan with the money or contact me in any way. They just took the entire deposit. Then they went into my ex-husbands account and took his entire balance, which caused things to bounce and create overdraft charges. I would just like to note that Mr. Crown and I have been divorced for twenty two years. My last and final issue is that my twenty one year old daughter was granted hurricane help from FEMA. Her entire deposit was taken by the bank less than 24 hours as it was deposited. Again, she was not contacted to set up a payment plan for her debt with the bank or allowed time to recover from the hurricane devastation before the money was taken.
We tried mediation with Halliburton & Kilpatrick to agree on a settlement offer. The proposed settlement was to return the money with overdraft fees to my daughter and ex-husband. Then erase my debts with the bank. They denied it multiple times, I am willing to ask them again to accept the offer.
Cahir Kilpatrick: We still refuse the settlement judge.
Judge: Would you like to explain your reasoning for declining the offer Mr. Kilpatrick?
Cahir Kilpatrick: No, judge we do not.
Judge: Mr. Kilpatrick, I have looked over the information Ms. Crown has presented to the court. In my opinion, there is a strong case for possible predatory actions by the bank you are representing. I believe her offer is more than fair. Are you sure you don’t want to consider it?
Cahir
A strong case for predatory actions? Is he kidding? He must be joking! I squared my shoulders and looked him in the eye.
Me: Our firm will not accept any settlement offer. According to the bank’s policy any money deposited can be used to settle the debt.
Judge: Is that so? Your firm did not advise your client that settling the debt with the money of others crossed the line?
Is he giving me advice or is he warning me that I need to reconsider because he has already decided? Maybe I should have done more research on this case and the judge. It is too late now to change course.
Me: We went over the policy with the client.
Judge: I see. We will take a ten-minute recess, and I will be back with my decision.
The judge left and we were dismissed. I sat down and looked over at this woman that has haunted my dreams and caused chaos in my real life for months. She was beautiful, but in an ‘I don’t know I am beautiful’ kind of way. Continuing to reassure her family members that things were going to work the way they should. I spent the ten-minute recess internet stalking Stella Crown, again. Her social media footprint was light, but you could tell she was about community, family and fun. She most certainly did not have a law degree. Ms. Crown did have two Masters though, one in Fine Arts and another in Criminal Justice. We stood to welcome the judge and hear his ruling. My mind was reeling and there was a roaring in my ears that had tuned out everything after the three million dollars. He had awarded them three million dollars, to be paid in forty-eight hours by bank wire! I lost. Not only did I lose, but I also lost to someone who didn’t even have a law degree! I am going to be fired and if not fired, I will be the laughingstock of the office for the rest of my life.
Standing, I buttoned my blazer and grabbed my briefcase. When I lifted my eyes, there was Stella Crown with here soft clear brown eyes, pouty lips and wavy honey blond hair. She had a tattered brown briefcase in her left hand with her right hand extended. At the base of her neck that was the tip of a tattoo that I really wanted to trace my fingers over. That stupid melodic voice brought me back to the courtroom. “Mr. Kilpatrick, thank you for your time.” I looked down at her hand and back at her face. Shaking her hand would be to admit defeat and there was no way that I was going to do that. So, being the immature sore loser that I am. I stuck my hand in my pocket and said, “Good day, Crown.” Was it rude? Yes. Should I have been more prepared? Absolutely. Was I going to admit any of that now? Nope!
When I got in my Bentley Bentayga, I slammed the door, harder than it needed. Preparing myself to make this call to my boss to let him know the ruling and take this ass chewing, I laid my head on the steering wheel and took a breath. There was someone knocking on my window. It couldn’t have been the police; I wasn’t blocking traffic or in an expired parking space. So, who was knocking on my window? Raising my head from the steering wheel, I didn’t even have to look out the window to know who it was. I felt her before I even turned my head...Stella.Fucking. Crown. Is this day over yet? I groaned and rolled down my window. “Are you lost Ms. Crown?” She looked at me with only what I can describe as concern, then she said “Mr. Kilpatrick” even though her tone was slightly angry there was still a softness to it “I have spoken with my family, although we are very happy with the ruling, we would be willing to settle for the original amount. I still have the papers for you to sign. I have talked to judge, and he is willing to accept it as well.”
I stared at her. The original look on her face that I thought was concern turned to pity and then worry. Why would she be worried about me? She just won three million dollars and now she pitied me? ME! The rage that rolled through me made my whole body hot and I all but yelled through the window. “As stated, before Ms. Crown, we will not be settling.” I said through clenched teeth. I rolled the window up and pulled off. It wasn’t until I pulled up at the first red light that the anger subsided, and I realized she had given me an out to save face at my firm. Ms. Crown, in her kind nature, had tried to make sure I was able to keep my job. What did I do? What did my ego and my ability to think I am unbeatable do…it doubled down on the failure.
Stella
The judges gavel slammed down, and I crashed down into my seat. There was no way we were just awarded a total amount of three million dollars. I turned toward my family and saw there were just as stunned as I was. You want to know who wasn’t stunned...Cahir Kilpatrick. He was pissed. My first thought was it served him right. All he had to do was meet with us and accept the settlement, it would have been way less than three million dollars. He underestimated us...he underestimated me. He gathers his things and goes to stand, so do I. Turning to him, I say “Mr. Kilpatrick, thank you for your time.” He gave me a cruel once over and looked at my hand in disgust. He stuck his free hand in his pocket and said, “Good day, Crown.” Then he turned on his heels and stomped out of the courtroom. Although, I should have been pissed off at him as well I couldn’t stop looking at his ass as he walked away. It was a very nice ass, it works well with his very fit body, handsome face and panty melting smile. Not that I have ever seen that smile in person. Today was the first time that I have ever met him in person, but I have seen him about town.
Once he was complete turned to my ex-husband and my daughter. They enveloped me in a huge hug and yelled together, “THREE MILLION DOLLARS!!” I stepped back and smiled, “Yes, three million dollars. We shouldn’t take it though.” I saw them pause and then look at me suspiciously. “I don’t think it is going to be good for the Kilpatrick firm if they lose three million to someone that does not have a law degree. The chance that they are going to pay out and not try to appeal it, is slim to none. I think now that they know how easily we could win...they will be more amenable to giving us the amount we asked for to being with. What do you think?” Taking a second to think it over, I saw them struggle with letting the three million go. In the end, they realized I was right. My daughter Moray said “Fine mom! We will try to see if they will take the settlement offer once again. If they blow it off again, we are going to aggressively push for the millions. Agreed? I nodded.
I turned and walked out of the courtroom determined to catch Kilpatrick before he left. I found him in the parking lot in his car with his head against the steering wheel. Walking up and tapping on the window, I didn’t know what to expect. He rolled down the window and said, “Are you lost Ms. Crown?” Pushing down the contempt, “Mr. Kilpatrick” trying to keep my tone light. Continuing, I said “I have spoken with my family, although we are very happy with the judge’s ruling, we would be willing to settle for the original amount we were asking for. I still have the papers for you to sign. I have talked to judge, and he is willing to accept it as well.” He stared at me, and I saw the rage flash in his eyes. Then he yelled, “As stated, before Ms. Crown, we will not be settling.” Then he rolled up the window and burnt off.
---
Cahir
Back in my office, Jagger Halliburton paced, his eyes darting with irritation. “Cahir,” he snapped, “what the hell happened in there?” “I was... off my game,” I muttered, hating the bitter truth. The fact that Stella Crown, someone who only had a Masters in Criminal Justice had just handed my ass in court was still mind boggling. I would be remiss though if I didn’t say it was the sexiest thing I had ever seen though. She was confident, aggressive and yet still kind. She had challenged me, and I had underestimated my opponent. “Well, we are delaying your partnership” he declared, jaw clenched. “We need damage control, and that includes making things right with Stella Crown.” “Delaying?” I spat. “You’re blaming this on me?”
“Get over yourself, Cahir, everybody makes mistakes,” Jagger growled. “You lost three million on a case that should have gone in our favor. Work with her, fix this! She’s fighting a second case against another bank that is allegedly foreclosing on veterans, and this time, you’re on her team. Oh, and Cahir, we took their settlement offer. So, instead of you losing our client three million. They only had to pay out, a hundred thousand.” My brain stuttered to a halt. They did what? I have to do what? Work with Stella Crown? Looking at him from across my desk, I saw him take a seat with a small smirk on his lips, “Your uncle was the one who suggested you go work with Ms. Crown. Something about you understanding that you are not untouchable or some shit. Either way, it is happening. Report to the Haven Community Center at 9am next Monday morning.” I knew coming to work for my uncle was a mistake. When your uncle is Owen Kilpatrick, the top lawyer in the nation who has only ever lost one case in his 30 years as a lawyer, you don’t miss the opportunity to learn under him. Now though, I wish I would have struck out on my own.
I stood and fixed my blazer, still a little shell shocked that this was happening. How did this go so far left? What was it about Stella Crown that made my blood boil and my heart flutter all at the same time? Us being in close quarters for any amount of time would not be a good idea. We were going to either be fucking or fighting, my body would like for it to be both, and my mind was screaming for me to run away. I had some vacation days in the books, maybe I should take those, go somewhere tropical lick my wounds and maybe someone else. That way, I can get this confusing ass feelings abut Stella out of my mind. There was this small voice in the back of my head that told me that wouldn’t work. Stella was in my blood, and I had no idea why. Today was my first time meeting her, she should not be affecting me like this. No woman had ever affected me like this. I didn’t let them. The only woman I ever loved told me I was worthless and left without looking back. Every woman since has never been allowed close to me, if you are not close...you can’t hurt me. Stella fucking Crown was in my bones and I couldn’t figure out why.
---
Stella
Monday morning at eight fifty-five am, the door to Haven Community Center flew open. It had been a week since the ruling, and we had no contact after that. So, to see Cahir Kilpatrick stroll in, head high and shoulders back in a navy-blue tailored suit, baby blue button up and looking like money was like a dream. His countenance made him look completely out of place in this inner-city community center. When his boss told me that we would be working together as part of his penance for losing the case, I argued that it was a horrible idea. However, working with Cahir was a stipulation for them to agree to the settlement. So, here we are. After everything, the thought of him brooding through our meetings was... intriguing, I must admit. When he strolled into the small conference room, a hint of that frustration still clinging to him, I managed a polite nod.
He narrowed his eyes at me, “Let’s be clear, Stella,” he said, voice low and edged. “I don’t like this any more than you do.” “Trust me, the feeling’s mutual,” I replied, unfazed. But under the surface, an odd thrill of satisfaction sparked. For once, Cahir Kilpatrick had to follow my lead. He frowned, took off his blazer and laid it across the seat next to him. “So, what is the case Crown? I have never found a man removing a blazer so arousing in my life. As my brain was assaulted with visions of what he would look like if he removed all his clothing that way, I heard a tap on the table. “Crown!” he said. “Yep” I shook my head and replied. For a minute I saw a hint of joy as he recognized that I was flustered because of him. It went away as fast as it came though and he said, “Give me the details of the case.” I stood from my chair, put my hands on my hips and glared at him. He slowly closed his eyes and opened them, “Please, tell me about the details on this case we are supposed to be working” he said dripping with sarcasm.
I nodded and slid two files over to him. One was all the information I could gather on Courage Federal Bank and the other on Valor Federal Bank. Two of the biggest military friendly banks in the nation. This was a class action suit claiming Courage was selling “delinquent mortgage accounts” to Valor and then Valor was saying that they couldn’t contact or reach an agreement with military members and foreclosing on their homes. There were already up to fifty members of the military active and veterans before the case was brought to me. He carefully looked through the information, then at me. “You know that Courage Federal Bank is represented by my firm. I can’t help you on this, it’s a conflict of interest” he said in a pained voice. I knew his family was full of law enforcement members and current and former military members. After looking at all the facts, it angered him that someone would be doing this to people who had served or were serving their country. Cahir hadn’t served, he had chosen to go into law instead.
I sat back down and considered asking him why he didn’t serve but thought against it. Looking at him carefully go over the facts of the case, I said “Once the settlement was signed by both parties, Killpatrick and Halliburton dissolved any relationship with Courage Federal Bank. They felt that if the bank was willing to do that to their customers, they could not represent them in good conscious” I sat back and watched as a myriad of emotions flashed over his face. He then settled on anger, and I couldn’t figure out if it was at me or the situation. He then rolled up his sleeves and said, “Let’s get to work.”
Cahir
Things with Stella have been good, she knows her stuff and is very detailed with her research. The interviews were rough, we had only made it through the first twenty people. Owning a home is the American dream and to have that taken away from you when you hadn’t done anything wrong was abhorrent. Talk about predatory banking practices. We were going over an important part of the case when I got a call “Hey pops, what’s up?” “Yo, how fast can you get here!” he yelled in the phone. I was already grabbing my keys, “What do you need...what’s wrong pops!” I heard him take a deep breath and then he said “There men here talking about taking my property. They said the bank sold my loan and I am behind five payments. FIVE payments Ace! You know I pay my bills on time, there is no way that is true. They brought the police because they said I was being belligerent, and they felt threatened. They told me I needed to vacate the premises. Something about a short sale…” He stopped. “Pops, take a seat on the porch. Tell them your lawyer is on the way and don’t say anything else!” I yelled. “Ace, I am your father...you don’t tell me what to do. Especially in the tone! Do you hear me?” he practically blew my eardrum out yelling in his deep baritone voice. Running to my car, I stopped just short of the door to collect my thoughts. “Yeah Pops, I hear you. I am on my way” I breathed out. That is when my keys were being pulled out of my hands and I was being pushed into the passenger seat. Stella got in the drivers seat and looked over “Tell me where to go.”
Twenty minutes later we were pulling into the driveway of my childhood home. This place held so many memories. It was also the place where she left and never came back. It had be just me and pops after that. I saw him sitting in his chair on the porch with a glass of what I expected was whiskey, with his shotgun in his other hand. Well, that would be the reason there was a police cruiser in the driveway. There were also two men in suits standing at the bottom of the stairs. Guessing those were the men that were there to take my pops house, I prepared to get out the car. I felt Stella’s hand on my arm, I turned to look at her. “I just got off the phone with Judge Loxley, he has granted a ninety day stay on all proceedings concerning your dads house. They have already filed it and emailed me a copy. So, you take your dad in the house and get all the correspondence and documentation you can. I will take care of the police and the suits” she gave me a calming smile. It did not calm me though, it set a fire in my belly that I didn’t want to put out. Everything in me wanted to tell her to fuck off, I could take care of my fathers business on my own. I didn’t need her for anything and who did she think she was. She was not a lawyer, but if she wasn’t a lawyer how did she get those things done so fast? How did she get a motion signed and filed by a judge so fast. Questions were swirling in my head so fast, I was getting nauseated. There was no clear path to what I should do next, so I just nodded and headed toward my pops.
When I got to him, I saw his eyes were fixed on Stella. She hadn’t looked at the porch once. Her focus was first on the suits, to let them know she got a stay for ninety days. Then she moved to the police officers to let them know that everything had been handled. Turning back to my dad, I he was watching her intently with a sense of sadness and pride. What was that about? “Hey Pops, lets go in the house. I need you to get me all the correspondence you have with the banks and any documents and contracts you have on the house” I said as I watched him give one last look at Stella, nod and head into the house.
Stella
My heart hammered as I slid behind the wheel, risking a glance at Cahir. His face was a mask of rage and determination, the kind of intensity that drew people in even when it made them wary. And it pulled at me, too, even as I knew he’d fight me on this if he had any clue what I’d kept from him. He hadn’t seen his father’s name in that file—if he had, he’d never look at me like that again. The knowledge twisted inside me, but I shoved it down. Today wasn’t the day to tell him. Today, I’d focus on keeping him and his father safe, no matter what it cost me.
When we reached the house, Donovan Kilpatrick was there on the porch, looking every bit the stubborn man, I’d heard stories about: shotgun in one hand, whiskey glass in the other. He looked proud, resolved—and eerily familiar. The resemblance to Cahir was there, but something more scratched in my memory. I forced myself to brush it off as I stepped out of the car, my hand landing on Cahir’s arm before he could storm ahead. His gaze burned into me, daring me to challenge his next move, but I held steady.
“I just got off the phone with Judge Loxley,” I said, my voice calm and assured. “He granted a ninety-day stay on any proceedings related to your dad’s house. The order’s filed; they can’t touch this property today.” I saw the flicker of resistance in his eyes, his instinctive need to manage this himself. “I’ll handle the police and the suits while you take your dad inside and grab whatever documents you can.”
Cahir’s jaw tightened, his pride warring with practicality, but after a beat, he gave a brief nod and strode up the steps. Watching him walk away, I took a deep breath and turned to face the suited men standing on the lawn, both exuding an oily arrogance that made my stomach turn. They eyed me with disinterest, barely concealing their disdain.
“The court granted a stay of ninety days on this property. Your actions today are in violation of that stay,” I said, my tone steady but laced with a threat I didn’t bother to hide.
One of the men, a tall, slick-haired guy with a practiced smirk, scoffed. “You really think a ninety-day stay means anything to us? The bank owns the loan. We’re not here to make friends, sweetheart.” My blood boiled. They were predators, plain and simple, preying on good people who had nowhere else to turn. But this time, they weren’t walking away victorious. “Your predatory practices are already under scrutiny in court,” I said, each word sharp and unyielding. “You might want to tell your higher-ups that today’s not the day to mess with this family.” The other man sneered. “You think a piece of paper can stop this? We’re still going to get this house.” I held my ground, hiding my disgust, and turned away, done wasting words on men who thrived on crushing people’s lives.
As I turned toward the house, I caught Donovan’s eyes on me briefly before he went in he house, there was something like admiration there—a pride I hadn’t expected. But there was a sadness, too, lingering in his gaze, a sadness that stirred memories I didn’t want to face. I pushed it aside as I stepped into the house, where Cahir and his dad were gathering boxes of documents in the dining room.
Donovan looked up and me and I felt a crushing pain in my chest. I stopped just short of him and stared at his face, every line, every familiar feature. The realization hit like a slap, and all at once, the memories I’d buried deep began to surface, each one sharper than the last. I was back to being little Stella Carrillo. “You!” I hissed, barely able to keep the accusation out of my voice. Donovan’s eyes widened for a split second before he looked down, regret written all over his face.
“Now, see here, Little Star, I can explain,” he started, his voice soft, hesitant.
I recoiled at the name, a name I hadn’t heard in years, a name he had no right to use anymore. “Little Star?” I scoffed, the bitterness thick in my throat. “You don’t get to call me that! You lost that right the second you betrayed my father and left me to pick up the pieces alone!” I could see Cahir’s confusion out of the corner of my eye, but I couldn’t stop now.
“Detrich Conner—that’s what you said your name was,” I went on, every word dripping with fury and years of buried pain. “Eight years. For eight years, you ate with us, spent holidays with us, comforted us when my mother died. And then you...then you!” My throat tightened, but I wouldn’t cry. Not now. Not in front of him. “You knew I had no one else, yet you did it anyways! Do you know how long it took me to clear his name?
Donovan opened his mouth, his gaze fixed on his hands. “It was my job, Little Star. You’ve got to understand.”
“Your job?” I nearly screamed, my voice breaking. “Your job? That was my life. My fucking life! Do you have any idea what happens to an eight-year-old girl whose father is branded a criminal by the number one detective in the nation? Do you have any idea what happens to a ten-year-old who dreams of going into law but can’t shake the shadow of the name she was born into? The songs…the songs they taunted me with. Little Stella Carrillo, has no mom and her dads a criminal.” My words turned to fire, each one scorching the space between us. “No—you didn’t care, did you? You were just doing your job.”
I could see Cahir’s confusion shifting into something darker, and the ache in my chest grew heavier, but I was too far gone to stop. “Do you know what happens to a man who just lost his wife and his daughter when he’s falsely thrown into prison? Do you know what it’s like to be shackled, locked up, knowing you’re innocent, but no one’s coming to save you?” I was nearly breathless, the rage bubbling over, a lifetime of hurt finally unleashed.
Donovan finally met my gaze, his eyes reflecting a sorrow I didn’t care to understand. “Do you, Detrich—Donovan, whatever your name is?” My voice dropped, cold and raw. “He kills himself. That’s what happens.” Silence filled the room, thick and suffocating, the weight of my words pressing down on all of us. My fists clenched, my chest heaving as I willed myself not to break. Donovan’s eyes pleaded with me, a broken, silent apology, but I wasn’t done. “You lied to us. For eight years, you pretended to be part of our family. You got us to trust you, to love you, only to betray us when we needed you most. You left me to figure it all out alone.” My voice was barely a whisper now, choked with pain. “I hate you.”
The last words left me shaking, my anger and grief mingling until I could barely see straight. I felt Cahir step toward me, his face a mask of confusion and something else, something I couldn’t face right now. I took a step back, the intensity of everything too much, too fast. I couldn’t breathe; I couldn’t think. I dropped the keys on the table, turned, and walked out, my footsteps loud in the silence. I didn’t know where I was going, but all I knew was I had to get away. Away from Cahir’s eyes full of questions, away from Donovan’s silent remorse, and away from the unbearable weight of the truth I’d finally confronted.
Cahir
Watching Stella from the passenger seat, her face tight with worry, felt like looking at the heart of a storm. A fierce, beautiful storm. She was the kind of woman who’d go to war for the people she cared about, no questions asked. I didn’t know what she was holding back, but I could feel it simmering beneath her silence, sharp and raw. Her hand had wrapped tightly around the steering wheel even though we’d already parked outside the house.
My dad’s place had seen better days, but he was proud of it. Hell, I was proud of it, too. It was a testament to the man he was—rough around the edges but built on a foundation that never faltered. And today, it stood as tall as he did, even with those bastards in suits waiting on his lawn like vultures. But with Stella here, telling me she’d bought us ninety days, I felt my chest swell with something I hadn’t felt in a while: hope.
I wanted to argue when she told me she would take care of the suits, wanted to tell her this was my battle. But something about her determination softened me, quieted the part of me that always wanted to charge ahead. So, I nodded, knowing she’d handle this with the same fire she did everything else. Watching her march over to those men, I thought she might be the fiercest damn person I’d ever met.
When I turned to my dad, who’d been standing on the porch with his shotgun and whiskey, I saw him grinning. “She’s got grit, that one,” he said, a flicker of pride in his eyes. “Yeah,” I murmured, unable to take my eyes off her. “She does.” We went inside, Dad giving me a rundown of the important documents he’d stored away over the years. It didn’t take long for us to gather the essentials—deeds, bank statements, his birth certificate. He’d kept it all organized in an old box he had stashed in the back room. We put everything on the dining room table and dug in. “Dad, why didn’t you tell me things were this bad?” I asked, frustration creeping into my voice. “I could’ve done something. We could’ve figured this out together.” He gave me a tired look, the lines around his eyes deepening. “I thought I had more time, son. Didn’t want you worrying. You’ve got your own life, and this...this is my problem. I only missed one payment.”
That was Dad—always trying to shoulder everything alone. But he didn’t realize he didn’t have to anymore. I opened my mouth to tell him as much when the door creaked, and Stella walked in. I saw something in her eyes I hadn’t seen before—something brittle and broken. My heart twisted at the sight of it. I’d do anything to take that pain away, to shield her from whatever storm was raging inside her. But her gaze wasn’t on me. It was locked onto my dad, her face unreadable.
“Stella?” I stepped closer, a sense of unease creeping over me. She didn’t even glance my way. She was staring at my dad with a look I couldn’t place—hurt, anger, betrayal all mixed together. And then she spoke, her voice trembling. “You!” My dad’s face froze. His easy smile faltered, and for the first time, I saw something like guilt flicker in his eyes. “Little Star,” he murmured, his voice a low whisper. “It’s been a long time.” “Don’t you dare call me that!” Her voice was sharp, like a knife cutting through the air, and I felt myself step back involuntarily, glancing between the two of them. “You don’t get to call me that after what you did.”
I looked at her, confused, heart pounding. “What’s going on?” Nobody was listening to me though. It was like I wasn’t even there anymore. Her eyes stayed locked on my dad, cold and unyielding. “Detrich Conner,” she spat, the words landing like a slap in the quiet room. “That’s what you said your name was, right? That’s how you introduced yourself to us. To me. For eight years, you sat at our table, spent holidays with us, and pretended to be family. You pretended to care.” I felt my stomach twist, the name unfamiliar yet heavy with accusation. “Stella, what are you talking about?”
She looked at me then, eyes full of hate. “Your dad...Detrich Conner or whatever his name is! He came into my family’s life, built us up, made us trust him—and then he betrayed us.” Her voice cracked, but she didn’t stop. “He made sure my father, an innocent man, went to prison on charges he didn’t deserve. He left me, a ten-year-old girl, with nothing but lies and shame. And my father—he didn’t survive it. He took his life.”
I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. The man I’d put on a pedestal, my hero, stood there silent, a ghost of the man I thought I knew. I know he had done undercover work when he was a detective. But I never knew the details of any of his cases. “Dad…tell me she’s wrong,” I demanded, my voice barely a whisper, almost begging. But he just looked at the floor. “I had a job, son. I didn’t know it’d turn out the way it did. I didn’t mean for—”
“You didn’t mean for my father to kill himself?” Stella’s voice trembled, her words barely holding the rage that poured out with each syllable. “You didn’t mean for me to grow up alone, carrying the weight of what you did? Say it was your job one.more.time!”
My heart shattered, piece by piece, watching her hurt and knowing my father was the cause. The man who’d taught me about integrity, about standing up for what’s right, had hidden this, betrayed everything he’d claimed to stand for. And Stella—God, I wanted to hold her, tell her it’d be okay, but how could I, when my own hands felt tainted by his actions? “Stella...” I whispered, reaching out, but she shook her head, her expression hardening. She looked at me, her face etched with pain I’d never imagined. “Cahir, I can’t do this. I can’t be around either of you.” Throwing my keys on the table she turned; her steps hurried as she made her way to the door.
I took a step after her, my voice catching. “Please—wait.” I felt desperation clawing at me, helpless against her pain. She paused in the doorway, not looking back, her words a hollow whisper. “Goodbye, Cahir.” And then she was gone, leaving me standing there, my world shattered, my father silent beside me, and a guilt I didn’t know how to bear.
Stella Carrillo, has no mom and her dad is a criminal.
Donovan
Seeing her walk in felt like a punch to the gut. The years had softened her features but did nothing to mask the anger radiating from her. And damn, that anger was sharp cutting, like I was a kid facing the wrong end of a blade. I didn’t expect this day to be easy, but nothing could have prepared me for Stella standing here, looking at me as if I were the devil himself.
“Little Star,” I said, her nickname falling out of my mouth before I could stop it. God, how many times had I thought of her, of what I’d done, how I’d failed her? For years, I carried that weight—never letting it go, knowing there’d be no atonement for what I did to that girl and her family.
My words hit like an insult, and she turned on me with a rage I could feel across the room. “Don’t you dare call me that!” she snapped, her voice trembling with fury. “You don’t get to call me that after what you did.”
Watching Cahir stand there, looking between us, a dawning confusion in his eyes—it killed me. All those years keeping the past buried to protect my son, so he’d never know what kind of man his father truly was. And now, in a single breath, it was all unraveling.
“Detrich Conner.” The name I hadn’t heard in nearly thirty years, spoken like a curse. I’d gone by that alias for so long it almost felt real back then. But that life… it haunted me every day, and seeing her here, the daughter of the man I’d wronged, brought it all crashing back in ways I couldn’t prepare for.
I didn’t know what to say, so I stood silent as she went on, her words full of pain and memories I couldn’t change. “Eight years, you sat at our table. Eight years, you spent holidays with us, pretended to care…for eight years, you acted like family.” Her voice cracked, but she kept going. “Then you tore it all down. And my father—he didn’t survive it.”
The words hit me harder than any blow, dragging up memories I’d worked to bury. Stella, a kid with big eyes, too young to be carrying so much pain; her father, a man who’d trusted me, trusted in my integrity, only to be sent to prison under my recommendation. I knew he was innocent, but orders were orders back then. I convinced myself I was doing my duty, that there’d be time to set things right. But the timing never came. Instead, the justice system chewed him up and spat him out.
“Tell me she’s wrong,” Cahir whispered, his voice low and trembling, full of a desperate hope I’d once had myself. It hurt to see him look at me that way—to see the respect, the admiration, start to waver. But the truth, as brutal as it was, couldn’t stay hidden any longer.
“I had a job, son,” I started, not even knowing if my words could make a difference. “I didn’t mean for it to end the way it did. I didn’t mean for—”
“You didn’t mean for my father to kill himself?” Stella’s voice cracked as she cut me off, each word like a weight pressing down on me. “You didn’t mean for me to grow up alone, with nothing but lies and shame?”
I wanted to tell her that I’d thought of her every damn day, that I’d never been able to forget the broken family I left in my wake. But what good would that do now? Nothing I could say would take away the scars, and looking at her, at my son, I felt something break in me.
For years, I’d carried the guilt quietly, thinking the distance and time would somehow lessen it. But there she stood, living proof that my actions had left lasting damage. I saw her trembling, fists clenched at her sides, her breathing ragged, and I wanted to reach out, to say something that might offer some solace.
But she was already turning away, her words leaving me cold. “I hate you,” she whispered, her voice as fierce as it was heart-wrenching. And it wasn’t anger anymore—it was the kind of bitterness that settles deep, the kind of resentment that becomes part of who you are.
Cahir looked at me, horror mingled with hurt. He started to step toward her, his eyes pleading, but she shook her head and threw his keys on the table without a word. I could feel the walls caving in on me, knowing I’d lost him too.
And then she left, walking out that door with the same fire she’d come in with, and I knew this time, there’d be no redemption.
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