Page 54 of Shadowing Charlotte

Chapter fifty-four

Alexander

Six Months Later...

T he entire courtroom was deathly silent as we took our seats for the second time that afternoon.

Charlotte stared blankly ahead, her eyes taking on that glazed, distant expression she'd worn often since the kidnapping.

We didn't talk much about what had happened to her, but she assured me she'd been working some of it out in her weekly therapy sessions.

But that look haunted me. Every time she gazed off, I was hit with an overwhelming wave of guilt for failing to protect her.

Charlotte fidgeted anxiously, spinning her amethyst engagement ring around her finger over and over again, until I finally threaded my fingers between hers and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. She was the one who wanted to be there for the hearing. Charlotte said it would give her closure.

Closure? Charlotte hadn't even been the one to press charges. Her father and the state had done that. For six months, we'd waited for the hearing while that fucker sat on house arrest.

To our surprise, Adam had been talked into pleading guilty to his crimes. Though, I suppose they were hard to deny, after they'd gone through his phone. I wondered if he'd made some kind of deal to have his time reduced.

"All rise," The entire courtroom stood as the judge addressed Adam .

"Mr. Reynolds, you have been charged with one count of harassment. How do you plead?"

"Guilty," Adam answered.

"Mr. Reynolds, you have been charged with one count of breaking and entering. How do you plead?"

"Guilty, your honor."

"And, lastly, Mr. Reynolds, you have been charged with one count of aggravated kidnapping. How do you plead?"

"Guilty," Adam answered solemnly.

"Let the record show that the defendant has pleaded guilty to all charges," the judge stated.

"Mr. Reynolds, for the charge of harassment, I sentence you to one year in a federal penitentiary.

For the charge of breaking and entering, I sentence you to eight months in a federal penitentiary.

For the charge of aggravated kidnapping, I sentence you to five years in a federal penitentiary, for a total of six years and eight months; eligible for parole after no less than three years.

Three years? Three fucking years after he tried to kidnap and kill my princess? When she still bore the trauma of the ordeal? It was fucking bullshit. It didn't matter; I had plans for Adam when they released him, even if he didn't know it yet.

As they prepared to take Adam into custody, he looked over at us—at Charlotte—with a sad expression I knew would melt her kind heart.

A look of guilt or some shit. Well, even if Charlotte was too soft, I didn't buy it for a single second.

I glared at him, giving her hand another squeeze of reassurance.

"Feel any better?" I asked her as we were leaving the courthouse.

"Hardly," Charlotte replied, pausing for a moment. "Do you think the judge was too harsh?" I rolled my eyes.

"Charlotte, he tried to kidnap you. He threatened to kill you so that I couldn't have you."

"Yeah, but can you blame him? Am I not obsession worthy?" she asked, attempting to find humor in the situation. I scowled at her, unamused.

"No, I don't blame him. But that doesn't mean I'll ever forgive him, either. No one touches my princess but me," I reminded her.

"Take me home, then, Lex. That's exactly what I want you to do," she breathed, an adorable smirk spreading across her face. My gaze darkened and I yanked her impatiently toward the Camaro.