The morning light slid through the bars, making the cell glow in pale stripes. Aiko stared at the ceiling, her stomach twisted in knots.

  Keys rattled. Her door screeched open. A female guard dropped clothes on her bed.

  Aiko sat up. “What’s this for?”

  The guard smirked. “Court date. Don’t want to miss it.”

  The words hit Aiko like a punch. Court. She’d pushed it out of her mind—buried under fire, Malcolm, Ginger… her sisters.

  Her hands shook as she pulled on the stiff, ugly clothes. Will Uncle be there? Will they let me go? Or is this just another trap?

  The courthouse felt like it could crush her. Cold stone. Heavy doors. Everyone staring.

  In the holding area, a slick man with shiny hair walked up. “Hello, Ms. Takahashi. I’m Julius Shcherbakov, your attorney.”

  Aiko blinked. “Who hired you?”

  He smiled without his eyes. “Let’s just say you’ve got friends in high places.”

  Before she could ask more, her name was called.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Her legs wobbled as she walked in. Then she froze. Uncle Hiroto. Sitting there. And next to him—Malcolm.

  Her heart lurched into her throat.

  No. No, no, no. Why are they together?

  She slid into her seat. Her lawyer droned on, but all she could hear was Malcolm whispering to her uncle. What are they saying? Why him? Why now?

  “Ms. Takahashi, what is your response?” the judge’s voice cracked through the haze.

  Aiko jumped. Everyone was looking at her.

  “I… I’m innocent,” she blurted. Her voice shook. “I’m the victim here.”

  The judge’s face didn’t move. “Are you entering a plea of not guilty?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. Then louder, forcing her voice not to break: “Yes. Not guilty.”

  A woman in gaudy clothes popped up, finger stabbing toward Aiko. “She attacked Jack. Liam was shot because of her. She might as well have pulled the trigger herself! When police found her, she was covered in his blood. She’s a danger. A flight risk!”

  Aiko’s hands curled into fists. Her cheeks burned hot. Liar. All of it. Liar!

  Her lawyer smoothed his tie, voice dripping honey. “This young lady has faced traumas no child should. Continued incarceration only deepens the harm. I request she be released into the custody of her only living family.”

  Aiko’s eyes darted to Hiroto… then to Malcolm. Whose side is he on? What are they planning?

  The judge scanned the room. Malcolm gave the smallest nod. The gavel cracked.

  “Bail set at five hundred thousand dollars.”

  The number slammed into Aiko like a wall. Her breath caught. Half a million? That might as well be five billion. I’ll never get out.

  Her gaze locked with Malcolm’s. His smirk cut through her like ice. He wanted this. He planned it.

  As the bailiff cuffed her wrists, Aiko’s chest heaved. She glanced once more at Hiroto and Malcolm, their heads bent close.

  They think I’m just a pawn. Just a kid they can break.

  The cuffs bit into her skin as they dragged her away, but inside her something sharpened.

  I’m not done. I’ll fight. For Liam. For Emma and Annabelle. For me. I’ll fight.