Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Bobby
The courtroom was colder than I expected.
The walls were painted in dull beige, the kind that looked like it had been there for decades, and the air smelled like old paper and disinfectant.
The wooden benches were uncomfortable, the weight of the moment pressing down on all of us.
Gabbi sat beside me, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
Liam was on my other side, his posture rigid, his face unreadable.
I could feel the tension radiating off both of them.
At the front of the room, the remaining members of Victor’s organization sat behind the defendant’s table.
Their wrists were cuffed, their expressions varying between indifference and thinly veiled frustration.
Some of them looked bored, like this was nothing but a formality.
Others shifted in their seats, glancing toward the exits like they still thought they had a chance to escape.
They didn’t.
The courtroom doors shut with a quiet finality, and the judge entered. The bailiff called the court to order, and just like that, it began.
The prosecution went first, listing out the charges—kidnapping, human trafficking, organized crime, multiple counts of assault.
The list was long, each word making my stomach tighten.
I knew all of this. I’d read the case file, had seen the damage these men had caused firsthand.
But hearing it laid out so plainly, so officially, made it all feel even heavier.
Liam didn’t move beside me. I kept my hand close, just in case he needed it.
One of the defense lawyers stood, trying to argue that their clients had "no direct involvement" in the kidnappings. My jaw clenched. The nerve.
Gabbi’s fingers tightened on her knee. I could tell she wanted to say something right then and there, but she held back, keeping her focus on the judge instead.
And then, finally, one of the men—Silvio Costa, Victor’s second-in-command—stood and pleaded guilty.
A murmur spread through the courtroom. His lawyer barely reacted, like this had been expected, but some of the other men shifted uncomfortably, their facades cracking. Costa was one of the highest-ranking men left alive, and now he was cutting a deal.
My fists curled against my thighs. This was a win, but it didn’t feel like enough.
Gabbi was called next.
I watched her stand, smoothing down her blouse, taking a slow, deep breath before walking toward the witness stand. She swore herself in, her voice steady, but I could see the way her fingers trembled slightly as she adjusted the microphone.
"Ms. Mason," the prosecutor began, his tone calm but firm. "Can you describe your experience inside Victor Costa’s camp?"
Gabbi nodded, her fingers gripping the edge of the stand.
"I was undercover for several days. I witnessed the conditions the kidnapped children were kept in. I saw how they were treated—like property, like they weren’t even human.
I saw boys as young as eight being forced to work, being threatened. If they disobeyed, they were punished."
A heavy silence settled over the courtroom. The judge gave a small nod, signaling for her to continue.
"I gained Victor Costa’s trust by pretending to be someone I wasn’t.
He... tested me. He never fully believed me, but I played my part well enough to avoid suspicion for a time.
" She swallowed hard, her gaze flickering toward me for just a second before she turned back to the prosecutor.
"But I wasn’t the one who saved them. Bobby did.
He killed Victor before he could hurt anyone else.
And because of him, we were able to get those boys out. "
I forced my hands to relax. Gabbi had been through so much in that camp, had put herself in so much danger—and yet, even now, she didn’t take credit.
The prosecutor nodded, jotting something down. "You said Victor Costa tested you. Can you elaborate?"
Gabbi hesitated. I saw the moment she debated whether to go into detail. Then, finally, she squared her shoulders and nodded.
"He was... controlling. He watched me constantly. He pushed boundaries." Her voice didn’t waver, but I could see the tension in her frame. "He wanted me to prove my loyalty to him. And if Bobby hadn’t arrived when he did, I don’t know what would have happened."
Something dark and violent twisted in my chest, but I pushed it down. This wasn’t about me.
The prosecutor gave her a moment before continuing. "And the children?"
Gabbi exhaled, her gaze softening. "They were scared. But they were survivors. Liam included."
A small, approving murmur spread through the room. The prosecutor glanced toward Liam, but he didn’t move.
"We’d like to call Liam Norman to testify," the prosecutor announced.
I felt my brother go completely still beside me. His hands curled into fists, his breathing uneven. Gabbi turned slightly in her seat, giving him a reassuring look, but he didn’t move.
Bobby leaned in, keeping his voice low. "You don’t have to, kid."
Liam swallowed hard. He looked at the witness stand, then at me, then at Gabbi. His jaw tensed. "I—" He stopped, exhaling shakily. "I can’t."
"That’s okay," I said firmly. "You’ve already been through enough."
The prosecutor nodded. "No further witnesses."
The judge gave one final look over the room, then turned toward the defendants.
"After reviewing the evidence and testimony, the court finds the remaining members of the Costa organization guilty on all charges.
Sentencing will be carried out at a later date, but make no mistake—you will never walk free again. "
The gavel came down, and just like that, it was over.
There was no cheering, no dramatic celebration. Just silence.
Gabbi let out a slow breath, her hands unclenching from her lap. I glanced at Liam, whose eyes were still locked on the men in cuffs, watching as the officers led them away. His face was unreadable, but when I reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, he didn’t pull away.
Outside the courtroom, the weight of the moment finally settled in. The afternoon sun was blinding after being in the dimly lit room for so long. Gabbi exhaled, rubbing her hands over her face, and Liam stood quietly beside her, staring down at his shoes.
I turned to him, gripping his shoulder. "It’s over," I said. "You never have to be afraid of them again."
Liam’s chest rose and fell slowly. For a second, he didn’t say anything. Then, finally, he nodded.
"I know."