CHAPTER THREE.

SABINE'S POINT OF VIEW

I had had my bath and decide to do a deep clean of my apartment thinking it would help me forget the activities of the night before when my father called me saying

“Hey baby girl,you wanna come with me to court today? I caught that big shot criminal I was telling you about the other day and today's the trial”

" Really? Um…well I was actually going to clean my apartment but you know what why not? I'll be there in a hour” I said to him and hung up

I quickly dressed and rushed out of my apartment. I called a Uber as I got dressed and he was already here. I got in, gave my address and plugged in my air pods.

…..

Before I knew it, the car stopped in front of the court building,I got out after paying and rushed in to avoid the incoming rain as the clouds has gathered as though the universe knew that today would determine the fate of someone.

I spotted my dad next to the water dispenser as he got himself some warm water,it was a cold day.

“Boo!" I said startling him.

“Oh, Sweetie, you scared me” he said and I laughed hysterically at his facial expression.

“Gotcha. Am I too Early?"

“Not at all, court will be in session in at least ten minutes” he said and led me into the actual place the case would be heard.

I never had any interest for law or anything related to it but being the daughter of a police officer who was well on his way to becoming the chief of his district, I was surrounded by things like this all my life. My dad sat me down in front telling me “you need a front row seat to this as the daughter of the detective and officer that brought this criminal to book” he said. The proud look on his face made me smile.

I saw him work very hard for the last three years and knowing that it had paid off made me proud to call him my father.

……

A few minutes later, a convoy of officers came in and the person handcuffed was dressed in an amazing black sleek suit. He looked like he had been roughed up a bit as his suit looked rumpled and his hair out of place. The moment the officers led him to the seat next to his defence attorney, I caught a glimpse of his face. He was breathtaking.

His hair was black and even though it looked out of place,I wanted to know what it would be like to run my hands through them.

He had a necklace on,I could see that from the popped buttons of his shirt and the tattoos on his chest read something ‘in blood, we find true freedom’ I wondered what that meant.

I had spent so much time looking at him but the second I looked up,I saw that he was looking straight at me. Like a deer caught in headlights,I looked at him with fear and for some reason recognition. I had no idea of where I saw this man but I had a feeling that I already knew him.

Suddenly,he smiled at me all teeth and lips. He licked his lower lips like he wanted to devour me and I swallowed. Next thing I knew, my dad leapt forward and punched him in the jaw

“Get your eyes off my daughter you suck bastard!" I heard him tell but the man just started laughing as though my father had told a joke. It terrified and confused me at the same time

“Officers! Order in this court or you will be escorted out or charged for contempt!” I heard another officer say

Luckily the judge was not seated or my dad might be in huge trouble. Officers were treated differently when they broke the rules

The officers helped the man up and set him down in his seat.

…..

Moments after the unrest, the judge came in and we all stood except the man. I was surprised at his audacity. He sat like he owned everything in the world, like he was in full control of it all even though he would be sentenced.

“Get up sir" I heard his attorney whisper to him but the dead look he gave back terrified him so much that he simply kept his mouth shut and stepped back.

The judge sat and everyone else did. The charges were read out and the prosecution pled their case as well as the defence but it looked like he would be sentenced, the evidence against him was too much for anything else to happen.

“The court will go on recess for ten minutes, we will get the sentence them" the judge said and hit his gavel

I got up and made.my way to my father but he looked like he was deeply in conversation with his fellow officers so I just went over to the snack bar next to the door to get a mango flavoured treat. My father always made sure to keep them for me whenever I accompanied him anywhere.

I munched on the snack and lifted my head when I felt as though someone was staring at me. It was the man again, I learnt that his name was Dominic Vitello. I swallowed as I looked back at him and once again,he smiled as though that gave him some kind of high so I quickly averted my gaze to avoid another brawl between him and my dad. I made my way to my seat making sure to look anywhere else but him as he was still staring at me uncaring about what else might happen to him at the hands of my father.

…….

Court was back in session and the judge read out his sentence. He was sentenced to life in prison but for some reason, he laughed and the judge read the sentence and as he was led out as though it was all some kind of show to him.

I walked behind as he was led k the huge van in front of the building. It was pouring cats and dogs now so I held the umbrella I always brought along with me as I stated ahead at the van. He was led unto it and after he sat, he looked back at me still smiling fir some reason.

I felt as though I knew him from somewhere which was weird cause I had never seen his face. Next thing j knew, he was waving at me as the van drove away and before the bus was out of sight, he blew a kiss at me.

….

My dad's hand in my shoulder brought me out of my thoughts as he smiled down at me

“How was that?"

“Scary dad, he kept staring at me” I said to him and shuddered

" I know honey but now he is going away for good” he said and I nodded as he led me to his car. I would spend the night at my parents but for some reason, my mind lingered in the tattooed stranger that was just sentenced as his name rang in my mind

DOMINIC VUTELLO.