The cartel bosses were sentenced.
Not to life in prison.
To death.
And the world watched as justice was served.
---
The sentencing was held in the same courtroom.
Same judge. Same jury. Same families.
But the energy was different.
The cartel bosses were not calm.
They were not controlled.
They were scared.
Victor sat at the defense table, his hands cuffed, his face pale.
Ramirez stared ahead, his eyes empty.
Ortega whispered to his lawyer.
Castillo prayed.
---
The judge entered.
"All rise."
The room stood.
The judge sat.
"Mr. Sterling, does the prosecution have anything to say before sentencing?"
Sterling stood.
"Yes, Your Honor."
He walked to the center of the courtroom.
"Your Honor, these men have spent decades destroying lives. They have recruited thousands of vulnerable people. They have killed hundreds of innocent people. They have ruined countless families."
He paused.
"They have shown no remorse. They have shown no mercy. They have shown no humanity."
He turned to the cartel bosses.
"The prosecution recommends the death penalty."
---
The courtroom buzzed.
The judge banged her gavel.
"Order! Order in the court!"
The room went silent.
"Mr. Hernandez, does the defense have anything to say?"
The defense lawyer stood.
"Yes, Your Honor."
He walked to the center of the courtroom.
"Your Honor, my clients are not saints. They have made mistakes. They have done terrible things."
He paused.
"But the death penalty is not justice. It is revenge. And revenge is not justice."
He turned to the jury.
"The defense recommends life in prison without parole."
---
The judge was quiet for a moment.
She looked at the cartel bosses.
Then at the families.
Then at the jury.
"Victor Calderon, please stand."
Victor stood.
His hands were shaking.
"You have been found guilty of drug trafficking, money laundering, conspiracy to commit murder, and witness intimidation. You have shown no remorse. You have shown no mercy."
She paused.
"I sentence you to death."
---
Victor's face went white.
"Ramirez, please stand."
Ramirez stood.
His eyes were empty.
"You have been found guilty of drug trafficking, money laundering, conspiracy to commit murder, and witness intimidation. You have shown no remorse. You have shown no mercy."
She paused.
"I sentence you to death."
---
"Ortega, please stand."
Ortega stood.
His hands were shaking.
"You have been found guilty of drug trafficking, money laundering, conspiracy to commit murder, and witness intimidation. You have shown no remorse. You have shown no mercy."
She paused.
"I sentence you to death."
---
"Castillo, please stand."
Castillo stood.
He was crying.
"You have been found guilty of drug trafficking, money laundering, conspiracy to commit murder, and witness intimidation. You have shown no remorse. You have shown no mercy."
She paused.
"I sentence you to death."
---
The courtroom was silent.
The families were crying.
Maya was crying.
David was crying.
Sarah was crying.
James was crying.
Damien was not crying.
But his hands were shaking.
Christabel took his hand.
"You're shaking."
"I'm not shaking."
"You're shaking."
"They're happy shakes."
"Same thing."
"Different intention."
---
The cartel bosses were led away.
Victor looked back.
He looked at Maya.
"You think this is over?"
Maya didn't flinch.
"It's over for you."
"This isn't over."
"Yes, it is."
He laughed.
The sound was hollow.
"You're still a pawn."
She stepped forward.
"I'm not a pawn."
"Then what are you?"
She looked at him.
"I'm the woman who watched you lose."
---
That night, Christabel put Lena to bed.
Not Damien. Her.
Lena was full of questions.
"Mama, why is everyone crying?"
"Because they're happy."
"Why are they happy?"
"Because the bad people are going away."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
Lena thought about that.
"Can bad people go away forever?"
Christabel smiled.
"Sometimes."
---
Damien appeared in the doorway.
"She's asleep?"
"She's dreaming."
"Of what?"
"Of you."
He walked to her.
Took her hand.
"The cartel bosses are sentenced to death."
"I know."
"They're going to die."
"I know."
"The families are free."
"I know."
"Why aren't you surprised?"
She looked at him.
"Because I know who you are."
First Line of Chapter 174 (Teaser):
"The one hundred twenty-ninth week, Damien received a letter. Not from an enemy. From a friend. From one of the cartel bosses. Asking for forgiveness. And Damien had to decide whether to give it."