Author's Note: Thanks to sweets555, tancsadesgal, and people.are.strange. for reviewing the last chapter. Thanks to GRAYTEXT for editing. Thanks to all the loyal fans that have stayed with the story!
--unusual dawn--
Chapter Fifteen: The Protector
Ben's POV
I was hiding in the bathroom, attempting to avoid another fight with my wife. Don't make fun of me! She could get very loud and sometimes looked ready to throw things at my head. We're talking self-preservation here.
Roxy insisted on keeping my baseball bat by the door. I argued against it, informing her if she wanted a weapon, she should just get a gun. She shivered at the very thought of having a gun in the house, so I didn't think it was wise to inform her of the gun in my briefcase.
I used to strap it on before I went to work, just to be safe. Of course I had a permit and all of the legal stuff. Now I waited until I was in the car to arm myself. I doubted Roxy was the type of person to be comforted by me having a weapon. I think it would give her more reason to freak out.
The guy who had threatened our lives had been calling repeatedly. The police had no leads. They promised that our case was top priority, and they would keep an eye on the house.
I was against leaving Roxy alone at any time. I contemplated following her to the coffee shop when she was meeting her friends. Then I would keep an eye on her as she attended her classes.
When I told her of my brilliant plan, she yelled at me in Spanish. Then she switched back to English and told me if I could go out without an escort, she most certainly could, too.
So maybe I hadn't taken the best approach, but how was one supposed to approach this topic? Avoiding it left her defenseless. Man, if her dad found out I had brought another bad guy on her besides Alan and Alec, he would be kicking my butt until the cows come home.
I didn't know who I was more afraid of, the death threat guy, Roxy's dad, or Roxy.
"I'll see you after work, honey," she called in false sweetness as she left for the coffee shop.
I winced. I did not succeed in my mission to stop her. I shook my head and exited the bathroom.
As I headed to work I reassured myself she would be fine. It was really me the guy was threatening, and she would be surrounded by people all day. That didn't stop me from worrying in the back of my mind.
Roxy's POV
I felt bad for getting so mad at Ben. He was only trying to protect me. It's just that I had gotten so sick of being protected.
I decided to stop by his work during lunch. I mean, isn't that what good wives are supposed to do?
When I arrived at his work, they were coming back form recess for closing arguments.
I always wondered what kind of lawyer Ben was. He always seemed to have trouble speaking when he was round me. I couldn't imagine him being a wordsmith in the courtroom.
I was blown away when he stood up and presented his case. He was so passionate. I could tell he strongly believed in every word he was spurting.
When he took his seat, I looked at the jurors' faces. I knew the man was as good as convicted.
It was a while before the official decision was read. While the jury deliberated, I could barely contain my excitement to congratulate him.
I mean, my husband, the brilliant lawyer. All right. That was a bit too corny. A person would have to see it to believe it, but I couldn't imagine Ben losing any case.
When they announced that the guy was guilty people clapped and others cheered. I jumped up and ran over to where Ben was being hugged by what I assumed was the mother of the victim. I waited until she left to get in for a hug.
"Oomph! Hey, Roxy," he greeted as he hugged me back. He looked shocked that I was present.
"I decided to stop by on lunch break. You have skills in the courtroom, ¿no? Congratulations on the case."
"Thank you, honey. I'm glad you stopped by. Now I know two things I can do to make you happy—speak Spanish and win cases," he remarked with a grin.
"Of course."
"Ah, I'm sorry, but I have another case in two minutes." He looked at his watch.
"Oh, yes. I forgot. I am sorry. I shall see you at home."
He smiled. "Love you."
"I love you, too." He kissed me before running off.
--unusual dawn--
When I was walking home from class, I kept thinking about the tons of math homework I had. It was hard to remember to keep an eye out for any lurking predators.
Ben's POV
I ended up getting home a little earlier than expected and decided to fix dinner. A romantic interlude sounded like a great way to conclude the evening.
I was trying to figure out what to fix when I heard footsteps come up behind me. Hair stood up on the back of my neck. I flipped around to see the defendant of the first case I had ever prosecuted.
He had brutally raped and murdered three prostitutes. On his way out of the courtroom, he had screamed bloody murder at me.
He pointed a gun at me.
"I'm going to kill you!" His finger was on the trigger.
I closed my eyes, knowing I was going to die.
I kept thinking of Roxy and how stupidly I had handled the first portion of our marriage. And how I didn't make things right with my parents. How I didn't beat Alan or Alec up enough.
I prepared myself for the bag.
It didn't come so I opened my eyes to see Roxy standing behind him with the baseball bat.
She bashed his head, sending him to the ground. When I checked, I found him unconscious.
"Call the cops," I ordered her.
"Already did. They're on their way."
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah. You?"
"I am as long as you are."
She raised any eyebrow. "That was bit too corny, but I'll forgive you since you're in shock."
Epilogue
Roxy's POV
Ben and I continued to have our occasional fights. I always resisted the urge to knock some sense into him.
I finished my degree, which I didn't put to much use. I worked part-time with my dad on his films and another portion of my time volunteering at a rape crisis center.
Alan overdosed on heroin. Alec was killed by one of his fellow mental ward patients.
Ben's parents aren't too fond of me. Ben just claimed it was because they were jealous of our good marriage. I guess a person could call our marriage good. It's not like it is bad.
Ben did splendidly at my family reunion despite the language barrier. I barely survived his family reunion, but that's another story all together.
Building a marriage for the sake of humanity and on a little attraction must be a good foundation.
We had the baseball bat mounted and bronzed.
--unusual dawn--
Author's Note: We are at an end (if you can't tell). Thanks to GRAYTEXT for being a beta and for all the loyal fans of the story. I'm always happy to hear from you guys. Thanks again to sweets555, tancsadesgal, and people.are.strange.
I hope y'all enjoyed the ending.