Beautiful Creatures Series
Chapter 60: 18

Chapter 60: 18

Mackenzie sat in the courtroom, listening to the lawyers argue their points in front of a jury and judge.They had slapped Gordon with a murder charge. They were prosecuting him for the deaths of Gorgeand Donald Falcone. They might have tried to convict him of Melissa’s as well, but they had nobodyand evidence to tie him to that one. The prosecutor was going on and on about the way Gordon wascovered in Gorge’s blood.

The defence argued that the only person with hostile intentions had been Donald and his son and thatthey had been involved in Mackenzie’s abduction. That they were long dead before Gordon found themand that he only got Gorge’s blood on him because he checked to see if he was still alive. That whenhe determined he was not, he had found Mackenzie and gotten them both out. It was far more likelythat Gorge and Donald, being the sociopaths they were, had killed each other before Gordon got there.

But the prosecutor tore apart the defence’s argument by saying if Gordon found them dead, why hadhe been so uncooperative with the cops refusing to admit he had ever seen them. Mackenzie testifiedon Gordon’s behalf, but no one took her seriously, the prosecutor claimed she would say anything toprotect her lover, and Mackenzie lost all credibility on the stand.

Mackenzie watched as the lawyers presented their closing arguments, and the jury was taken toanother room to deliberate. Things were not looking good. Mackenzie wanted to talk to Gordon, but thebailiff handcuffed him and took him out of the courtroom to a holding cell to await the verdict.

Mackenzie paced the court hallways with Katelyn and Aster watching her. It was hours before the jurywas unanimous. Court reconvened, and Mackenzie was in the seat right behind the defence tablewhen they brought Gordon back in. The judge prattled on for a bit about the case, and then the jurorhanded the bailiff a piece of paper, and he handed it to the judge who silently read it and then noddedto the head juror. The man stood up with the verdict in his hands.

“On the count of murder in the first degree, we replace the defendant not guilty.”

“And on the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter?” The judge prompted.

“We replace the defendant guilty,” Mackenzie felt her heart wrench. Every member of the pack in thecourtroom jumped to their feet and started yelling in protest.

The judge repeatedly slammed his gavel on the bench, calling for order. It took a few minutes for theprotest to quiet. “Mr. Wilder, you have been found guilty of the manslaughter. As a result, I sentenceyou to a term of ten years with the possibility of parole after five to be served in a maximum-securityprison.”

Everyone started screaming at the judge, and the room filled with security guards trying to get the riotunder control. Mackenzie jumped out of her seat and came to Gordon. She hugged him tightly andburied her face in his chest, crying. He held her close and stroked her hair, assuring her it was ok. Hewould be fine, and that he needed her to be strong.

“You are a mother now,” he said, gazing down at her and wiping a tear from her eye. “You got to bestrong. Preston needs you,” Gordon kissed her lips as the bailiff handcuffed Gordon and took himaway. Katelyn laid her hand to Makenzie’s back sympathetically.

***

Gordon shuffled along the hallway. His wrists and ankles are shackled. He had been inside for oneweek, and the guards told him he had visitors. A guard behind a wall of glass pressed a button to openthe door to the visitor’s room. Gordon shuffled inside and spotted Mackenzie and Aster sitting at one ofthe tables. The guard walked him over and chained him to a bolt-on the floor at the table, then walkedaway, leaving them to their visit.

Gordon kissed his daughter hello and then Mackenzie. In her arms, his two-month-old son. “How areyou doing?” Aster asked.

“Well enough. The food sucks, but the gym has some good equipment. I’m popular; three guys havetried to jump me,” he teased. “I guess I still got sex appeal.”

“That’s horrible. How can you joke about that?” Mackenzie snapped, not replaceing him funny at all.

“Sometimes, you got to laugh to stop from screaming,” he said, taking her hand. “Don’t worry about me,beautiful I know how to hold my own in places like this,” Preston made a fussy sound and began tosquirm in Mackenzie’s arms. “And how’s he doing?”

“Well enough,” Aster said. “Considering what he is. He’s a little unpredictable.”

Preston sneezed, and his face changed. Mackenzie quickly covered him with a nursing blanket to hidethe change from view.

Gordon looked around to make sure no one had seen it and relaxed when he saw no one looking in hisdirection. “It’s too risky,” he whispered. “You can’t bring him to the prison anymore. Not until he’s oldenough to control it,” he insisted. “It’s not safe.”

“But that could be years. He’s not going to know you,” Mackenzie protested.

“I’ll write to him, and he can write to me. I’ll see him when I get out. I would rather have him safe thanhere.”

“Ok,” Mackenzie agreed. She looked around the room at all the other convicts and sighed. “I wish wecould be alone.”

“You know they have these trailers for conjugal visits,” he suggested.

“I asked; those trailers are only for married inmates,” Mackenzie said sadly.

“Are they?” He said thoughtfully. “Well, then I suppose we’ll have to get married.”

Mackenzie’s face lit up. “In prison?”

“I know it’s not the most romantic, and a prison chapel isn’t the ideal place for a wedding, but it’s thebest I can do, and I don’t think I can wait five years to hold you again. I know it’s not the wedding youhad been hoping and planning for, but I can’t do any better. What do you say? Can your reputationhandle the scandal of marrying an inmate?”

Mackenzie giggled. “I think so.”

“Ok, you replace a dress, and I’ll ask the warden to allow the wedding,” he had an in with the warden. Heknew the warden was a closet junkie, and if he did not want Gordon to expose his dirty secret, hewould give Gordon what he wanted.

***

Mackenzie had found herself a simple white dress and a bouquet of white roses. Aster, Darrell, andsome of the others had come out to witness the union. They all stood in the tiny chapel next to Gordon,who had been allowed to wear a suit for the occasion. The warden and four guards stood in the roomto be sure nothing happened.

Katelyn opened the door, and Mackenzie went inside. Mackenzie walked the short distance and tookGordon's hand, who looked as excited as she felt.

They turned to the priest, and the ceremony began. The priest went on about the sanctity of marriageand the commitment they were making to one another, and then he asked for the rings which Aster hadpicked up that morning. She handed the rings to her father, and they proceeded.

When it came to the vows, Mackenzie and Gordon turned to one another. “Mackenzie Starr, do youwillingly and freely take Gordon Wilder to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love, honour, and

cherish forsaking all others until the day death parts you?”

Mackenzie smiled. “I do.”

“Gordon Wilder, do you willingly and freely take Mackenzie Starr to be your lawfully wedded wife? Tolove, honour, and cherish forsaking all others until the day death parts you?”

Gordon smiled. “I do.”

“Then, with the power invested in me by the church and the state of Colorado, I pronounce youhusband and wife,” the priest smiled. “You may kiss your bride.”

Gordon took Mackenzie in his arms and kissed her lips. It was a long, slow kiss that made her kneesweak. Then Gordon pulled back slightly, his eyes flashing with wicked intent. “Now, let’s replace thattrailer.”