They all sat in the same places and waited for the Judge to get seated, then she handed a note to an officer and he opened it. He read off the charges one by one and every single time he said, “guilty.”

Raine let out a breath of relief and waited for the Judge to give the sentencing, which was the thing they had all been worried about. The Judge told Luke to come to the front of the room and face her. He was cuffed at the wrists and ankles and Raine almost wanted to go up and trip him as he shuffled to the front of the room. Two cops came up and stood on either side of him, and he turned and looked at her and she knew if he weren’t in handcuffs he’d try and kill her, she held Elliot’s hand tightly. The Judge started talking, “young man, I have never seen a more sorry individual standing in front of me in the position you are right now, and I don’t mean apologetic, usually things like what you are facing would humble even the worst of criminals, but you seem to still think you are above it all, that you are untouchable or bulletproof, maybe that’s been true for a long time but you have just met your kryptonite, me. For the crimes presented to the court that you have been convicted as guilty of including murder in the first degree, I sentence you to a combined minimum of life in prison with no less than forty years with no parole.”

Raine let out a small cry and covered her mouth, everyone in the courtroom was crying with only a few not being tears of joy and relief. Raine held her happiness down to not cause a scene, but she looked at Elliot who looked as happy as she felt.

“You did it,” he whispered as the cops led Luke away and his mom and dad stood to yell at the Judge. Of course, they would try and change things but Raine knew it wouldn’t work. She floated out after it was over, and the Judge smiled at her as she left the room. They all gathered outside and the protesters were down to just a few people who didn’t dare say anything to her because her group outnumbered them. Everyone hugged her and said nice excited things to her. After they had all gone besides Papi, Bethany, and Elliot, Raine saw Sarah’s parents walking quickly toward them. Her mom ran up and hugged her before she said anything, Raine patted her back as she cried into Raine’s shoulder.

“Thank you so much,” she said.

“It was for all of us, for me, for Sarah, and you guys,” Raine said looked at Sarah’s dad, he hugged her next and said thank you.

Elliot and Papi stood back beaming with pride, they all said their goodbyes and they left. Raine and Elliot helped Bethany get Papi and cab and she hugged him tightly, he didn’t say much but he touched her face and gave her a look that let her know how proud he was of her. Bethany said some kind words and they left.

She stood there watching them drive away and Elliot put his arm around her, “you ready to go?”

“Yes, I’m so tired,” she said. They went back to his apartment and she quickly changed into some lounge clothes and laid down in his bed, he came and wrapped his arms around her, and she drifted off to sleep. She slept for only a couple hours, but it felt like the best sleep she’d ever had. When she woke up Elliot brought her some coffee and asked her how she felt.

“I feel free, freer than I’ve ever felt in my life.”

“I love you so much,” he said, laying down beside her.

“I think I love you more,” she said.

He grinned, “not possible.”