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Laura turned around immediately, handing one of them her card. “She won't be answering questions at this time. You can come back later.”

“And who are you?—”

The other cop let out a heavy sigh once he read Laura's card.

“You're not gonna win this one,” he told his colleague, pulling him back by his vest.

“We need to?—”

“This is not a hill you want to die on, trust me. I know her.”

With that, they were gone faster than they arrived, and Laura looked at me with a large smile. Marci walked to her, handing her a hot coffee.

“One latte, nonfat milk, with one sugar.”

Laura thanked her, but my attention was pulled back to Lux when she lifted my hand and placed it to her lips.

“If you want them to leave, let me know.”

I shook my head and sent her a smile before looking out at all the people who showed up because they cared about me.

“This is good. Thank you.”

I leaned down and placed a kiss on top of Bella's head. Only then did I realize that she was asleep against me.

Tears pricked my eyes. It might have taken me a while to get here, but finally, I got a taste of what having a family felt like.

It was warm. It was fun. And I couldn't ask for anything more.

“I love you,” I whispered to Lux.

“I love you, Angel.”

Lucas made a gagging noise. “God, I'm gonna be sick.” There was no venom in his voice, though. In fact, he looked… pleased.

I laughed and took the matcha Marci handed me. And for the first time in my life, I let myself be cared for and pampered by the people who loved me, knowing they were here to stay.

Juliette

I'd never been in a courtroom before.

Not even when my parents had the accident because there was no culprit. I mean, there was, but they could never find her . Until now.

Even if she ran away from the scene at the bridge, I was glad so many people had witnessed what Lux's mom did to me, most of whom had volunteered to testify against her.

Not only that, but I was finally getting justice for my parents.

Lux and I stood in the courtroom side by side.

A united front. We hadn’t let Bella come with us this time even though she wanted to.

The now nine-year-old didn't seem to fully understand what was going on, and that was for the best. She didn't need to know her grandmother was a killer. We’d get to that when she was old enough to grasp it.

We watched as Lux’s mother tried desperately to reason with the judge. Her lawyer’s head was down as his client decided to take matters into her own hands.

She was frantic. Crying, pleading, begging. Crying so hard her makeup was running, ruining the picture-perfect image she never let slip.

She was no longer the rich, put-together woman involved in charity who had raised two kids and gained everyone’s sympathy when one of them had been taken too soon.

Here, she was… unhinged.

“She’s a fucking liar! I have never hurt a fly. You heard my character witnesses. They all say I'm a great and loving person! She's lying!”

“Mr. Fritz, if you cannot get your client under control—" the judge started.

“So maybe I did, but I didn't kill anyone! She talks about some random car accident and blames it on me even though I've never driven drunk in my life and I've never killed anyone!”

The judge leaned forward, clearly out of patience. “Ms. Sterling, were you paying attention to anything that was said in court?”

That shut her up. I wouldn't be surprised if she truly wasn’t listening. Every time she saw Lux and me, she still acted like we were the ones to blame for this.

Turns out the policeman she had slept with to cover up her crime liked to keep note of the favors he did. And Mia and Laura were a force to be reckoned with. I would not want to be on their shit list. No lawyer, no matter how expensive, would be able to get her off the hook now.

My hand found Lux’s, and I took a deep breath. Laura looked calm and collected as ever, but I could see just the barest hint of a smile pulling at her lips, and I knew she was proud of what she had done in this courtroom.

“You are without remorse and still trying to save yourself. I fear there is no hope for you. On top of the already issued life sentence, I am ordering you to pay two million dollars to the Hayes family for the wrongful death of their parents. One million for each parent. One million for each life you took.”

His words had tears filling my eyes.

When the judge brought down his gavel, I looked back into the audience and met Lucas's eyes. I was taken back to the small boy who wouldn’t let me go when he heard the news of our parents.

He was much older now and stronger too. His eyes were red, but his shoulders were back and his chest was puffed, showing the entire world just how proud he was that our parents had been vindicated.

And I was beyond proud of him. He had come right from his training, still wearing his lineman vest. He had moved out and left our aunt behind when he realized the part she’d played in helping Lux’s mother.

But more than that, he was pursuing his own goals in life, and I couldn’t wait for him to have everything he wanted.

I turned back to the judge and watched as they dragged Lux’s mother away, kicking and screaming.

“Court is adjourned!”

We all filed out, but Laura stopped us at the door.

“I'm glad I could see this to its end.” She gave both Lux and me meaningful looks. “It's not every day we get a happy ending like this.”

“Thank you for everything,” I said, and wrapped my arm around Lux.

I looked up at her to catch her smiling at me already.

“We really appreciate it,” she told Laura. “I'll be in touch.”

Lauren nodded, ever the professional, and took her leave.

“Since this ended early, how about I take you out to lunch?” Lux asked.

“Only if it's at the diner,” I said, knowing Bella was probably waiting for us at home.

“Deal.” She was about to pull me away but paused when she caught sight of Lucas. He was standing not too far away from us. “Yes, you can come too. Family lunch.”

A blinding smile spread across his face.

“Let's go get our girl, hm?” Lucas asked. “I need to hear the newest school gossip. It’s like a soap opera I can’t get enough of.”

Lux laughed. “She's already waiting outside for us.”

Over the last year, Lucas had become closer with all of us. It was awkward at first—and a bit painful if I was being honest—but slowly he began to warm up to us. To the idea of me and Lux.

And, of course, to Bella. No one could resist her for long, but especially Lucas. She became the little sister he never had, and she helped him explore his inner child. The one that had been forced to grow up too fast after our parents’ death.

Playdates. Arts and crafts. He did it all, any chance he got. He even bought matching aprons for when they took baking lessons from Gina.

It was everything I could have asked for and more.

Sure enough, Marci was waiting with a very impatient Bella. Lux met her first, trying to coax her back into the car, as Lucas came to my side, nudging my arm with his.

I looked up at him with a raised brow.

“This looks good on you,” he said, side-eyeing me.

“What?” I asked and looked down on my bland court clothes, which consisted of a cardigan and a white blouse.

“Don't be stupid,” he said with a huff. “Happiness. It looks good on you.”

The air rushed out of my lungs, and I looked back at Lux and Bella, who were bickering playfully.

Warmth blossomed in my chest.

“So cheesy,” I teased, leaning against him. “I didn't know you had it in you.”

He cleared his throat and pushed me away.

“I am human, you know? I’m allowed to care about my sister.” There was a small smile on his face. “Just make sure I'm the best man at the wedding.”

Heat sprouted all over my body, and I struggled for a reply, but he was already gone and dipping into the car before I could stop him. Bella went in with him, and Lux was just… there.

She was always there. Wanting me. Loving me. And now waiting for me with a smile so wide it had to hurt her cheeks.

She held out a hand for me.

“Coming, Angel?”

Butterflies unleashed in my stomach.

This is what love is supposed to feel like.

I giggled as I placed my hands in hers.

“Yes, sir.”