Chapter 16 - The Trial of Celeste|
A month later.
Inside the federal courthouse in downtown Bell Haven, the high-profile trial of Celeste Arden was coming to a close.
Dominic and Mara sat in the front row of the gallery, flanked by Rocco and their legal team.
Celeste sat at the defense table wearing a plain gray prison jumpsuit, her hair unstyled, her face thin and desperate.
The judge slammed his heavy wooden gavel onto the bench.
"In the matter of State versus Celeste Arden," the judge announced loudly, "on the charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and solicitation of violent crime, this court finds the defendant guilty on all counts."
Celeste gasped, bursting into loud, hysterical sobs as federal marshals moved forward to place heavy steel handcuffs around her wrists.
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"Dominic! Please!" Celeste shrieked, looking back at him in terror as she was dragged toward the side doors. "Save me! I did it for you!"
Dominic didn't say a word. He didn't even look at her. He simply reached out and took Mara’s hand in his, holding it tightly as the heavy doors slammed shut behind Celeste forever.
