Part One Hundred and Eighteen

Part One Hundred and Eighteen
Fourteen weeks later
“All rise,” the court officer said.
Dominic stood with his two lawyers and their junior assistant lawyers behind them and together they looked like a formidable team. The prosecutor had an assistant as well because this case was just too big to be ignored.
Everybody wanted a piece of Dominic Vittori. He was careful to keep the smile off his face. He wasn’t worried. They had nothing on them and he knew for a fact that the District Attorney had no idea that his lead witness was a fucking liar.
The press had a sectioned off area and behind him sat Rafaella with his men, his brothers and their wives as well. It was a show of just how the Vittori family supported one another. Dominic now knew that the witness against him was Isadora Watkins and his rage had known no limit when he’d gotten the discovery list from his lawyer.
The feds were keeping her at an undisclosed location and Dominic knew he’d wait until the right time to exact his vengeance. It would be sweet for him, painful for her. He had given her everything and because he’d set her free she turned around and went to the feds! Dominic was beyond pissed off.
“Judge Walther Matthews presiding. The State versus Dominic Vittori in the murder of Zhang Wei. Will the defendant please rise,” the officer said again.
Dominic had remained standing and he glanced over at the prosecutor. The newspaper headlines had gone all out with this case. They had painted Dominic in a bright light as an entrepreneur, showcasing his wealth and his accomplishments, a married man that was committed to his community as the prosecutors tried to spin their version of him being a deranged killer.
“How do you plead to the charge of First Degree Murder, Mr. Vittori?” Judge Matthews asked him.
“Not guilty, your Honor,” his lawyer, Bryan Mitchelson III, said.
“Mr. Pattinson, you may start with opening statements,” Judge Matthews said and leaned back in his leather seat.
It was quick and to the point. Dominic listened intently as Duncan Pattinson regaled the jury with how he was going to prove that Dominic Vittori, a known associate of the Italian Mafia had killed Zhang Wei in cold blood.
Bryan Mitchelson III was even more to the point, making the jury smile as he basically told them what a saint Dominic was, how his charitable organizations cared for the homeless, the orphans, and the poor of the city.
The officers first on the scene were questioned and so were the coroner, describing the extent of Zhang Wei’s injuries and the fact that his hands were still missing was brought up. Dominic kept his expression stoic and showed no emotion, as per his lawyer’s instructions.
The court broke for lunch and Dominic escorted Rafaella out of the courtroom amidst flashing cameras and a hundred questions being yelled. Dominic ignored them all as his men kept the reporters at bay and they finally made it outside.
“Fucking vultures,” Hudson said as he closed the door behind him and Ethan sped away from the federal court house.
“You should stay at home, Rafi, this stress can’t be good for the baby,” Dominic said as he leaned closer to her.
“I’d stress more not knowing what’s going on,” she said and gave him a brave smile.
“Nothing’s going to happen, I promise. Isadora knows nothing and if she says she does, then she’s lying. I never told her a thing,” Dominic said.
“It’s official. I’m putting Isadora’s name on the crazy girlfriend list,” Cooper said with a grin.
“You have a list?” Rafaella asked him.
“Only the weird ones,” Hudson said with a smirk. “Like Viviana that burned the kitchen down half-way and Amber that kept a hold of the bedposts and Ethan had to carry her naked ass out of the lower penthouse.”
Rafaella laughed as Dominic lowered his head. “You’re an asshole, Hudson.”
“The only woman ever to step foot in the real penthouse is you, Rafi,” Ethan said from the front. “The lower penthouse was for the one-night stands.”
“Not helping, Ethan,” Dominic grumbled.
“How many crazy ex’s are there?” Rafaella asked as she looked at Dominic.
“Can we just get something to eat? I’d rather sit through that bullshit court case than listen to these assholes regale you with stories about my past.”
Rafaella kept up the ex-girlfriend story all through lunch and the guys humored her much to Dominic’s embarrassment. They told her about every crazy and weird woman ever to step foot in the lower penthouse.
Back at the courthouse, they went through the whole ritual of fighting their way inside and waiting for the judge to make his appearance. Questioning resumed and they were also informed that the next witness would be the last one for the day.
Agent Halden was questioned about the crime scene as were the two officers first on the scene. Halden was called short a few times as Mitchelson objected to anything Halden testified with regard to what Haverley had told him, like Dominic asking Haverley if Wei’s hands had been found.
Dominic couldn’t wait for the day that Isadora took the stand. Mitchelson was prepared for her, knew about their affair, the break up and her appearance at his office. He’d also rejected putting the video Remy had made into evidence as it might bring forth the fact that their brief encounter with his wife could lead to a grudge and that looked bad for them since Haverley’s body had been found, minus his teeth.
“The court will be adjourned for the day and this trial will continue tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. sharp.”
They rose again as the judge walked back to his chambers and Dominic smirked when they walked out of the courtroom and he saw Halden leaning against the wall, watching him intently.
Dominic took Rafaella’s hand in his. He kissed her knuckles as Halden snorted and walked out of the courtroom amidst the flashes of cameras and reporters sticking microphones in their faces. His men shielded them the best they could until they were safely inside the SUV.