Chapter 12 - The Charges Escalated
"They were arrested at the hotel,"
Daniel told me softly the next morning, pulling a chair close to my hospital bed.
"They were booked into county lockup last night."
I closed my eyes, a complicated, agonizing mixture of guilt and profound relief washing over me. The conditioning of my childhood screamed at me that I had destroyed the family, but the physical pain in my pelvis reminded me of the truth.
"They assaulted you, and they nearly killed our daughter,"
Daniel said, reading the conflict on my face.
"There is absolutely no excuse for what they did. Loyalty does not require you to be a human punching bag."
"I know,"
I whispered, a single tear slipping down my cheek.
"The District Attorney called me this morning,"
Daniel continued, his voice hardening into a professional, lethal tone.
"They reviewed the security footage and interviewed the catering staff. They are escalating the charges. They are not just charging them with secondary assault."
"What are they charging them with?"
I asked, opening my eyes.
"Felony child endangerment,"
May you like
Daniel stated grimly.
"By violently attacking you in the third trimester, they actively put Clare's life in imminent, lethal danger. The prosecution is pushing for maximum prison time."
