AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Is this the accused?” the judge asks, gesturing to me.
“Yes.”
“How do you plead, Mrs. Velky?”
Tears well in my eyes and I suddenly feel as if I’m suffocating.
“Guilty.”
“Mrs. Velky, do you understand the crimes and consequences for what you have just pleaded guilty to?”
“Yes.” A tear rolls down my cheek.
“Good. As you both know, the request for a plea bargain was rejected. That said, is there any comment from the prosecution?”
“No.”
“Alright then. In the case of the State of Texas versus Rowan Velky, the accused is found:
Guilty of the charge of capital murder for the death of Alyssa Kaing, charged as first-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison.
Guilty of the charge of capital murder for the death of Macy Swift, charged as first-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison.
Guilty of the charge of capital murder for the death of Cora Granger, charged as first-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison.
And finally, guilty of obstruction of justice and seven counts of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, in which the accused will pay a $10,000 fine per count…”
His words become muffled, the noise around me suddenly sounding like I’m hearing them while underwater. I grip onto the table, feeling like I’m about to pass out. Closing my eyes, I focus on the sound of the blood rushing through my ears.
Then—
“Request for probation is denied. Is there anything else?”
“No,” the prosecutor says.
“Great. Call the next case.”
And just like that, it’s done.
My life is over.
FIFTY-FOUR
AMBER
Present day
It is a beautiful day. The kind made for long walks, aimless drives, or napping in a hammock under a tree. Spring has always been my favorite season. It’s a time of rebirth and renewal, a reset from the darkness and loneliness of winter.
There is no lonely for me anymore. The days, months, years, of longing for someone who understands and appreciates me, who truly loves me, are long gone. I’ve never been this happy in my life. I now understand everything—the years of angst, the feeling of not being where I was supposed to be, of being trapped in a boring, bleak marriage, and, worst of all, wondering where it all went wrong. All that has prepared for this.
This man. The man who found me at the bar, so long ago, and offered an ear to listen when I felt like no one cared. The man who made me feel wanted, needed, and loved. The man who told me, “Stick with me. I’ll take care of you.”
Shepherd slips his hand into mine as we step onto the cobblestone sidewalk that curves through the manicured bushes that line the front yard. The bright morning sun shimmers off a FOR SALE sign next to the front stoop of the home. I look up at him, reveling in that warm feeling he gives me. With just a smile, the man makes my heart skip a beat.
The realtor, Lisa, smiles at my smile, and glances down at my stomach.
“How far along are you two?”
