Chapter 1
The jury entered the courtroom and took their seat with no clear expressions on their faces. Antonio looked back at Jessica and gave her a small smile of comfort. Jessica softly mouthed the words "I Love You," to him. Antonio nodded and turned to face the court.
The Judge then asks the foreperson, "Did you reach a verdict?"
"Yes sir, we did," the foreperson responded.
The clerk then received the verdict form from the foreperson then returning back to the bench turned and faced Antonio. "Mr. Vega, please stand for the verdict."
Antonio and Vangie stood up praying that this was going to be a victory and an ending to a very bad dream. Antonio took a deep breath to prepare himself. Jessica twisted her fingers tightly together wringing the handkerchief she had used to hold back the tears through the trial.
The clerk began to read his fate, "Antonio Vega for the crime of First Degree Murder of Keri Reynolds the jury has found you GUILTY."
Antonio's face dropped in unbelief. Cristian and Natalie jumped up screaming, "No, no . . . his innocent." Jessica sat there with tears flooding her face, shocked of her lover's fate. R.J. clapped loudly when the verdict was read with a huge smile across his face. Antonio's mother had found her way into the courtroom against Antonio's wishes. She came in just as the verdict was being read, anger gripped her and she lunged for R.J. hitting him across the face with her hand. Cristian and Natalie were able to pull her back before she struck him again. "You will pay for this R.J. Gannon, you will pay for what you have done to my son!" Natalie walked Carlotta out of the courtroom with one of the guards escorting them.
The judge pounding his gavel to restore order, "The ruling of the jury stands . . . Antonio Vega you have been found guilty of First Degree Murder and the sentence for that is DEATH."
The light in Jessica's eyes went out in that moment she became overwhelmed with so many emotions, but the most powerful one was the one of her love for Antonio. As the guards came to take Antonio away Jessica ran and wrapped her arms around him. Both crying, their future was just beginning and now it looked like their life together was over. Antonio had tried to be strong for both of them and not cry, but Jessica could see the fear in his eyes. Antonio whispered in Jessica's ear, "I Love You Jessica." Jessica reached up and kissed him passionately on the lips, which was broken as the guards pulled him away.
Jessica asked Vangie, "Can we appeal?" She said she would try her best but it looked doubtful. Vangie promised to do her best and was in shock herself for losing the case. Jessica sat down on the bench and didn't move. The love of her life, the man she had just finally found . . . now she may lose him forever. Jessica wasn't ready to accept their loss. She knew that whatever it took she would have to save him . . . no matter what.
Antonio lay on the cot with his hands over his face.
"How . . . how could this happen?" he questioned. He thought for sure the jury would find him innocent. He didn't kill Keri, yes she had given him plenty of reason to, but she was the mother of his child and he honored that. In life she tortured him and now in death she still had control. Shaking his head to try to rid his mind of those thoughts. "Appeal, Vangie can appeal this," he thought, but in the back of his mind he doubted . . . fear that his fate was sealed to die!
Jessica hung up the phone and grabbed a black bag on Antonio's couch. She had a note she had written to her mother and put it in her jacket pocket. She picked up a picture of her and Antonio on the end table and looked at it, "Soon my darling . . . soon," she put it down and went out the door.
The jury entered the courtroom and took their seat with no clear expressions on their faces. Antonio looked back at Jessica and gave her a small smile of comfort. Jessica softly mouthed the words "I Love You," to him. Antonio nodded and turned to face the court.
The Judge then asks the foreperson, "Did you reach a verdict?"
"Yes sir, we did," the foreperson responded.
The clerk then received the verdict form from the foreperson then returning back to the bench turned and faced Antonio. "Mr. Vega, please stand for the verdict."
Antonio and Vangie stood up praying that this was going to be a victory and an ending to a very bad dream. Antonio took a deep breath to prepare himself. Jessica twisted her fingers tightly together wringing the handkerchief she had used to hold back the tears through the trial.
The clerk began to read his fate, "Antonio Vega for the crime of First Degree Murder of Keri Reynolds the jury has found you GUILTY."
Antonio's face dropped in unbelief. Cristian and Natalie jumped up screaming, "No, no . . . his innocent." Jessica sat there with tears flooding her face, shocked of her lover's fate. R.J. clapped loudly when the verdict was read with a huge smile across his face. Antonio's mother had found her way into the courtroom against Antonio's wishes. She came in just as the verdict was being read, anger gripped her and she lunged for R.J. hitting him across the face with her hand. Cristian and Natalie were able to pull her back before she struck him again. "You will pay for this R.J. Gannon, you will pay for what you have done to my son!" Natalie walked Carlotta out of the courtroom with one of the guards escorting them.
The judge pounding his gavel to restore order, "The ruling of the jury stands . . . Antonio Vega you have been found guilty of First Degree Murder and the sentence for that is DEATH."
The light in Jessica's eyes went out in that moment she became overwhelmed with so many emotions, but the most powerful one was the one of her love for Antonio. As the guards came to take Antonio away Jessica ran and wrapped her arms around him. Both crying, their future was just beginning and now it looked like their life together was over. Antonio had tried to be strong for both of them and not cry, but Jessica could see the fear in his eyes. Antonio whispered in Jessica's ear, "I Love You Jessica." Jessica reached up and kissed him passionately on the lips, which was broken as the guards pulled him away.
Jessica asked Vangie, "Can we appeal?" She said she would try her best but it looked doubtful. Vangie promised to do her best and was in shock herself for losing the case. Jessica sat down on the bench and didn't move. The love of her life, the man she had just finally found . . . now she may lose him forever. Jessica wasn't ready to accept their loss. She knew that whatever it took she would have to save him . . . no matter what.
Antonio lay on the cot with his hands over his face.
"How . . . how could this happen?" he questioned. He thought for sure the jury would find him innocent. He didn't kill Keri, yes she had given him plenty of reason to, but she was the mother of his child and he honored that. In life she tortured him and now in death she still had control. Shaking his head to try to rid his mind of those thoughts. "Appeal, Vangie can appeal this," he thought, but in the back of his mind he doubted . . . fear that his fate was sealed to die!
Jessica hung up the phone and grabbed a black bag on Antonio's couch. She had a note she had written to her mother and put it in her jacket pocket. She picked up a picture of her and Antonio on the end table and looked at it, "Soon my darling . . . soon," she put it down and went out the door.