Page 63 of His Prize

He growled as he pulled me upright. “You’re mine tonight, gorgeous.”

I gripped the collar of his suit. “You’re mine forever, handsome.”

It brought me great joy to sign that marriage contract with my real name on it. I gazed upon our signatures and my new last name as my mind reminisced on what all we had to go through in order to get here. I shook my head at the thought. The past ten months had been nothing but a blur of craziness. And as Israel scooped me into his arms, carrying me back down the aisle as his blushing wife, he carried me down the hallway as well before we stood in front of the doors that led into Pava’s courtroom.

“Ready to finish this?” he asked.

I nodded. “I’m ready. I’ve been ready for a while now.”

“Part of me really wants to carry you in there.”

I grinned. “Then, by all means, carry away.”

He chuckled as his hip bumped the door, ushering us into the courtroom. Everyone stopped and stared as the entire room paused, including the judge with his glasses slipped down his nose. Israel walked us to the front before we sat on the side of the prosecution. An outward show of disownership while Brianna and my aunt scowled at us. Israel sat down and settled me off to the side. I took his hand within mine, feeling his wedding ring brushing against my skin.

I peered down at it just to remind myself that this was all real.

That this was really happening.

“Are you two done?” the judge asked.

I looked up. “My apologies, Your Honor. It won’t happen again.”

He nodded. “You’re damn right, it won’t. Prosecution? You may continue.”

Everything passed in a blur, mostly because I didn’t care to pay attention. I laid my cheek against Israel’s shoulder as the court session droned on before the jury had to break for sentencing. I felt Brianna’s eyes glaring at me from across the room. I heard whispers in the audience about Gio being arrested as well as our marriage. I didn’t care, though. They could think whatever they wanted. Because right now, we were unstoppable.

And I had every intention of making sure things stayed that way.

“All rise for the verdict.”

I scrambled to my feet as Israel wrapped his arm around me. Cradling me against his side. The judge came back to his podium, and the jury filed in as the entire room fell silent. This was it. The moment of truth. Would my uncle be released and ready to fill our lives with hell? Or, were we about to be rid of him forever?

“Jurors, what is your sentence?” the judge asked.

I looked over at juror number one, who lifted a sheet of paper.

“We, the people, find the defendant—Pava Moretti…”

I held my breath as my heart stopped in my chest.

“...guilty on all counts.”

“What?” my aunt screamed

“No!” Brianna shrieked.

The judge banged his gavel against the podium. “Order in this court! All of you!”

My uncle whipped around. “You’ll pay for this. Mark my words, Bonnie. I will never stop coming after you. You won’t dismantle what I’ve done. I won’t let you do it. Your days are numbered, you stupid little bitch!”

I looked him dead in his eyes. “You weren’t half the man my father was, Pava. And you never will be. I hope his death haunts you to your grave, and I wish nothing but nights full of memories upon you for the rest of your days.”

“I’ll slaughter you myself. You’ll see!” my uncle roared.

The judge growled. “Get him out of this courtroom. I’ll deal with his threats later.”

The bailiffs wrestled my uncle out of the courtroom as I wrapped my arms around my husband. I heard my cousin cursing me and my aunt screaming about the chaos of the crowd. I felt him tugging me toward the door. He whisked me away, shielding my body with his as we tore out of the courthouse. And once we got to the car, Ash promptly stepped out to greet us.

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