Page 170 of Saving Serena

My decision added to whatever the problem was between him and Duke. And neither would admit what the issue was.

The judge droned on for a while before telling Tony Spinelli to rise.

He stood, along with his counsel, shifting nervously.

Agreeing to Spinelli pleading guilty to a single count had been the price of getting this behind me as rapidly as possible and avoiding a trial.

I’d submitted my victim impact statement regarding Tony in written form. It hadn’t been easy putting down on paper the horror that had befallen me at his hands. And maybe the judge wasn’t supposed to consider it, but I’d also included the trauma of watching him stab and nearly kill my boyfriend in front of me, with a smile on his face.

“Mr. Anthony Spinelli,” the judge said, “you have pled guilty to aggravated kidnapping under California Penal Code…”

I held my breath as the judge read the rest of his sentencing speech.

The defense had argued for a twenty-year sentence, which would allow him to get out in seven.

The prosecutors had argued for a life sentence.

Spinelli smiled as the judge continued. “…I hereby sentence you to life in prison?—”

“Fuck you,” Tony spat. “That wasn’t the deal.”

Seemed he’d thought the judge would go easy on him.

“Counselor, restrain your client,” the judge ordered.

“I’ll fucking kill you when I get out,” Tony ranted.

Duke’s arm came around my shoulder to tug me tight.

I smiled. This asswipe deserved every miserable year he’d now spend in prison, not just for abducting me, but for attacking my man.

“Mr. Spinelli, I wasn’t done,” the judge continued. “Your sentence is life in prison without the possibility of parole.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding. Spinelli wasn’t ever getting the chance to leave the cage he was headed for.

“That wasn’t the deal,” he screamed at his attorney. “You said I’d get twenty max.” When he punched the poor schmuck and tried to strangle him, I grasped Duke’s thigh, a silent plea for him to not get involved.

The bailiffs wrestled a swearing Tony out of the room, while the attorney he shared with his brother held a handkerchief to his nose to staunch the bleeding.

When the circus subsided, Johnson Spinelli was told to rise.

Thankfully, the sentence was the same for the pervert.

Instead of swearing at the judge, he turned around and aimed his venom at me. “I’ll get you, bitch.”

I sneered back and scratched my nose with her middle finger.Take that, asshole.

Duke glared at him. If Johnson ever escaped prison, intent on making good on his threat, he’d better hope the police caught him before Duke did.

The judge repeated the process with Pons and Katelyn. All four got life without parole.

As the three filed out the prisoner door, we stood to leave. The spectacle was complete.

“They got what they deserved, and it’s over now,” Duke whispered as my entire family stood and spoke over each other with pretty much the same sentiment.

I stayed glued to my man’s side as we left.

When we reached the corridor outside the courtroom, he released me so my family members could have a chance to hug me one at a time.

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