Chapter Forty-Six
Vanessa
I watched stone-faced as the video played before the court, clearly showing RJ wielding a knife and forcing me into the car.
“So as you can see, Your Honor,” Sheila said, “this is proof, inarguable proof, in fact, that Miss Padgett’s use of a firearm in self-defense was, and is, completely justified and not considered excessive in the slightest. Her life was in danger from a man who was completely unhinged.”
Sheila rewound the tape, showing the change in RJ’s body language from when I had patted him on the shoulder to after. That single instant had snapped something in him. Upon viewing the tape, part of me wondered how I could have been so blind to it at the time. It was noticeable. Extremely.
“I’m inclined to agree with the defense here,” the judge said, watching the tape play a second time. “That does appear to be a case for self-defense. Counsel?”
I sagged slightly while the prosecutor got up.
“There’s no proof of what happened once they were in the car,” he tried to argue, saying that RJ would have had both hands on the wheel and that my shooting him in the head was unnecessary.
“The defendant has already stated she was not aiming to kill, but when the assailant saw she had pulled a gun, he jerked away from her, which turned the wheel, throwing the defendant’s aim off.”
There was more said, but I didn’t listen to it. Finally, after all the commotion of the fight at the Iron Fortress, the wedding/coronation ceremony that followed, and the vigorous excitement of the wedding night, I could relax and really let things go.
I’d accepted that I’d acted in self-defense. I would always regret that RJ had died, but I’d seen enough fighting and death since that I now had a better understanding that what I did was not because I was a murderer but because I valued my own life. I was not a coward and a killer like my father.
I was different.
Eventually, the jury retired to deliberate. They didn’t take long. Vil spent most of the time holding me on a bench outside the courtroom. When we filed back in, I stood as the verdict was read.
“On the count of second-degree murder, we find the defendant … Not guilty.”
I blinked back tears of relief.
“On the count of fleeing the scene of a crime, we find the defendant … Guilty.”
Sheila had warned me to expect that, so hearing it wasn’t the same sort of gut blow. I did have some nerves about the sentencing, however. How long would I have to go away?
The judge nodded and sat down to announce the punishment for my crime.
“Miss Padgett,” he said.
I rose. “Your Honor.”
“Given the extenuating circumstances of your attack, I’m inclined to be lenient on your subsequent departure from the scene.
It is, in my belief, reasonable that you may have been distraught and afraid and sought comfort from someone you knew instead of someone you didn’t, even if they were trained emergency personnel. ”
I nodded.
“However, you were also gone for nearly two full days. There’s a limit to leniency. I’d put it in single hours, most likely. Therefore, I sentence you to two days in jail, forty-eight hours of community service, and six months of probation. Case closed.”
His gavel banged firmly, and I stared in surprise. That was still lenient to me. Extremely lenient.
I turned to Vil as the bailiff came to take me away. “Guess you’ll have to visit me at my place for a bit.”
He grinned, kissing me, which the officer was kind enough to let linger for a bit.
“I’ll see you in two days,” he said.
“Two days,” I agreed. “Oh, and Vil.”
“Yes?”
“We’re having another wedding here. With my friends and family. Okay?”
He looked ready to protest, but then a sly look came over his face, and he darted back to put his lips to my ear.
“Do we get another wedding night?”
I nodded. The bailiff coughed, putting my arms behind my back as he grew impatient.
“Promise to do that same thing?” Vil asked hopefully.
I blushed. “Maybe. But only if you’re good.”
“I’m the best.”
The bailiff rolled his eyes and pulled me away, but not before I gave Vil a big wink.
Two days in jail. I could handle that. Two days on my own.
Then a lifetime with Vil.