“Tell them it was a mistake.”

“Tell them we were partners.”

I looked at him, and for the first time, I felt nothing but pity.

“We were never partners, Marcus,” I said.

“You used me.”

“And now you are paying the price.”

The guard stepped forward, warning Marcus to remain silent.

Evelyn Shaw’s trial was brief.

She pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy.

She received twelve years in a maximum-security facility.

Vanessa Hale was disbarred and sentenced to six years for her role in the corporate theft.

Marcus received the harshest sentence.

The judge cited his history of extortion, financial manipulation, and his ties to illegal syndicates.

Twenty-five years without the possibility of early parole.

As the bailiff led him away, he looked back at me one last time.

I did not look away.

I wanted him to see that I was no longer afraid of him.

Dante stood beside me in the gallery, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back.

We walked out of the courthouse together into the bright afternoon sun.

The air was cool, but the rain had finally stopped.