I was no longer breathing, completely paralyzed as my life flashed in front of my eyes.
He took another deep whiff, then to my continued horror, he smiled and pointed a finger to where I was standing. “You smell divine.”
His words lingered in the stifling air, twisting through the horrific images and increasing terror. He licked his lips, his deep chuckle one I’d never forget.
Then he backed away before slowly disappearing into the night.
CHAPTER 1
Two months later…
Valentina
“Ms. Smith. Will you please tell the court in your words what happened the night of August thirteenth?”
Ms. Smith.
Not my name.
My name was Valentina Sciascia, yet to the rest of the world, I was Jane Smith. Anonymous. A girl from nowhere going nowhere. It was almost laughable that I’d ceased to exist. For my protection. That’s what I continued to hear.
Numb.
I was still numb inside, barely capable of functioning daily. In the two months since witnessing the horrific crime, I’d been plagued with nightmares and high anxiety, barely managing to get through a day without breaking down into either tears ora panic attack. I’d continued to see the monster’s eyes as he’d stared at me.
There’d been recognition just before he’d faded into the darkness. Maybe not from knowing who’d seen the horrific deed, but at least that someone had been watching. He’d gathered a whiff of my perfume. I’d constantly looked over my shoulder even though the detectives involved with the case had assured me I’d be safe.
Was it possible to feel safe any longer?
The courtroom was completely silent, the members of the grand jury hidden behind the privacy panel, yet I could feel their eyes studying the silhouette behind the screen. Scrutinizing me. Challenging me.
Beads of perspiration tickled my nose and upper lip. I didn’t have the strength to wipe them away.
“Ms. Smith?” The deep voice was soothing. Comforting. I tipped my head, blinking profusely as I looked at the judge. He was unlike any of the judges I’d seen on television. Tall and muscular, his thick whiskey-colored hair the kind you wanted to run your fingers through. I’d seen him standing in a doorway more than once and he filled the space. His rugged features, including a chiseled jaw, reminded me of all those alpha heroes in romance novels.
Yet his eyes were his best feature. So green I envisioned pools of salt water in the Caribbean or a jungle where a waterfall sprayed cooling water across craggy rocks. Where his held life and joy, albeit a hint of something haunting him, the monster’s eyes had been cold and devoid of anything other than pure evil.
The dichotomy had struck me on the first day I’d met Judge Armstong. Even his name reflected strength and decency.
Maybe that’s why so far, I’d managed to keep my shit together. But today, I felt as if I was unraveling.
“Are you alright?” he continued.
I had to think about his question. Finally, I nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Then let’s proceed.” His smile was encouraging. No one knew who I was. My name would be redacted from all courtroom proceedings. The records were and would continue to be sealed long after I gave my testimony.
If I remained strong, I could help put a horrible criminal behind bars for life.
Jacob ‘The Undertaker’ Jones. All I knew was that he was a reported hitman for the Delgado Cartel. I remembered the name of who he worked for since he’d been explicit in telling the victim the reason he was about to be murdered. I’d also been forced to replay the horror several times, the local news splashing the monstrous murder across the screen as if glorifying the evil event.
There’d been no way to avoid the barrage of news, especially when he’d been arrested. It was as if they’d caught a celebrity with his pants down, not a monster who’d cut a human being into bits and pieces.
“On the night in question,” Ms. Guthrie, the state’s attorney continued, “what were you doing?”
“I’d just left work, heading to my car.” There. I could do this. I was a strong woman and could beat the demons crawling in my mind.
“What do you do for a living to have you out so late?”
