Two hours later, we sat in the court room. Me at the defense table with Brock, and Bobby and Lester in the front row of the gallery right behind me.

"All rise," the bailiff called. "The honorable Judge Matthew Milford presiding."

Thirty minutes later, I found myself sitting on the witness stand answering questions from the judge.

"Mrs. Sullivan," he began. "I've gone over the depositions provided by your attorney and the prosecution. To say they tell two different tales is an understatement. However, in addition to the depositions provided by Mr. Keselowski, he's also given detailed transcripts of telephone conversations between members of your late husband's family and your former supervisor Jared Haley. The police report and security feed from the Kroger supermarket, showing your late husband's brother slashing the tires on your vehicle."

For a moment, he turned his attention to Aaron's family and appeared to zero in on his brother. "Mr. Sullivan, you should consider yourself lucky that your arrest and punishment have already been delivered, because I promise you wouldn't like what I'd have to say about your behavior."

He turned back to me. I have also reviewed the pictures you provided of his family members following you, the letters that were written to you demanding you turn over the money, and the video from your home security system detailing how often members of his family were seen outside your house." His face shifted from a hard look of determination to one of caring. "I was informed by courthouse security that you brought bodyguards with you because you felt unsafe being here."

"Um..." I glanced at Bobby and Lester. Both men were rigid in their seats. Their faces blank, but I could tell they were pissed at what they were hearing. There wasn't any point in making them angrier by trying to explain that I wasn't afraid for my safety, but my two boyfriends were. Under the circumstances, it would be much easier to just agree. "Yes, sir. That's correct."

He gave a slight nod. "Is it also true that you decided to move out of state to get away from his family?"

"Yes, your honor."

"So, you had to make arrangements to come back here today?"

"Yes, your honor."

"Thank you, Mrs. Sullivan. You may step down and take your seat."

"Thank you, your honor," I replied, then moved to step down.

"Mrs. Sullivan?" I stopped to look back at the judge. "I am sorry for your loss."

Instantly my eyes burned, and I whispered a strangled thank you to the judge before crossing to sit back at the table. Brock handed me a tissue. While I might not have been in love with Aaron, he was my best friend, and I did love him and miss him a lot.

The judge continued. "I am perplexed by how long it has taken for this hearing to happen. I'm also absolutely appalled by the level of abuse that the defendant has suffered from the accusers, during that time. From the information I've been provided, I understand she's endured that mistreatment long before her husband died. It is obvious, by the fact that she stayed married to him, despite his family's cruelty, that she did indeed love him. Nothing, I've seen in any of the evidence submitted has sufficiently proven to me that the marriage of Aaron and Sienna Sullivan was a sham. Nor has any proof been provided that Aaron Sullivan was coerced into changing his will or insurance beneficiary."

He took his glasses off and set them aside. "It makes perfect sense to me that when a couple marries that the new spouse would become the beneficiary of any life insurance policy or will."

He turned his attention to Aaron's family. "However, there is overwhelming evidence of harassment, stalking and intimidation on the part of the Sullivan family. You all should be ashamed of yourselves for what you have put this woman through. You are not the only ones who lost a loved one on that day in October last year."

He paused, then took a deep breath. "This case is dismissed. The seven hundred and forty-five thousand dollars currently sitting in escrow is to be immediately released to Mrs. Sullivan."

The family's attorney started to speak only to have the judge cut him off. "I'm not interested in what you have to say Mr. Preston. You and your clients have spent nearly a year trying to drag out this case and wear down the defendant. The fact is your clients have no claim to the money. Period. I am however, disgusted by their behavior toward Mrs. Sullivan, both before and after Aaron Sullivan's death. I hereby order your clients to pay all of Mrs. Sullivan's court cost and travel expenses. He picked up his gavel and banged it against the block. "This court is in recess."

We stood while the judge made his way out of the courtroom, then I turned to give Brock a hug. "Thank you," I said as I pulled back and grinned. This part of my life was finally settled.

We made it as far as the hallway when Aaron's mother and sister stalked toward me. "You slutty red-headed piece of garbage," she snarled. "If you think this is over, you're ugly ass is sadly mistaken."

Before I could reply, Bobby and Lester stepped in front of me. Their faces blank. They were in bodyguard mode. "Ma'am, I need you to back up," Bobby said, his tone firm.

She actually curled her lip at him, then turned back to me. "Tell your dog to get the hell out of my way, or are you too afraid to face me like a real woman?"

She was lucky, Lester and Bobby were blocking me, because her calling Bobby a dog hit its mark and I was ready to come at her swinging. Nobody, especially her, was going to get away with calling my guy a dog.

"I don't need to hide behind anyone, Bridget. My bodyguards are standing in front of me for your protection."

She laughed. "Oh, really?"

"Yes, really. Consider yourself lucky they're in the way. Otherwise, I'd flatten your ass in a heartbeat." Even on crutches I had no doubt I could take her in one punch.

"You do, and I'll sue you."

"After everything you and the rest of the family have put me through, there isn't a judge in the state of Indiana who wouldn't think you deserved it. Now, let me make this clear. You try and file an appeal and I will file a counter suit against you and your family for harassment, intimidation, and attempted extortion."

"I'd gladly take that case," Brock said from behind me. "I might even make a call to the district attorney to see about getting criminal charges filed."

Bridget sucked air, looked from Lester to Bobby, then to me. "I hate you, you bitch. Thank God you didn't trick my son into getting you pregnant. The last thing this earth needs is another spawn of Satan." With that parting shot she turned on her heel and stormed away.

For several seconds I remained rigid, ready to fight and just a bit confused. She of all people should have known about her son being sterile. We couldn't have had children even if we wanted to.

Once the men were confident the family had left, they turned to look at me. "Are you okay," Bobby asked.

I nodded and raked a shaky hand through my hair. "That woman." I shook my head. "She really knows how to get under my skin."

"She's wrong," Lester said as he took my hand in his. "You're gorgeous and I'm sure any child you'd produce would be also."

I smiled at him, leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, Les, but I wasn't talking about the things she said about me. I really wanted to flatten the bitch for calling Bobby a dog."

Bobby laughed. "Sweetheart, I promise you that I've been called much worse. Her words meant nothing to me."

"Maybe not, but they meant something to me," I replied.

"I think we've given them enough time to vacate the premises," Brock said. "Let's head out."

After a couple of minutes, we exited the building. Brock turned to me, a smile on his face. "Let's go back to the office and we'll get all the paperwork squared away for the wire transfer."

"Sounds good," I replied. "I can't thank you enough for helping me with this, Brock."

"It was my pleasure, Sienna. Aaron was a really good friend and I always thought you deserved to be treated better by his family."

"I have a question," Bobby said. "If you changed your name, why did the judge call you Mrs. Sullivan during the hearing?

"Since the name change was done to protect Sienna, I petitioned the court to keep her new last name sealed," Brock said.

"Aaron's family never knew I was an author," I said. "Considering how they treated me from the beginning, Aaron thought it was best not to say anything for fear they might try to wreck my writing career. So, they don't know about my pen name."

"Under the circumstances," Brock continued. "The judge agreed. So, he used her married name for the hearing."

"That makes sense," Bobby said as Lester helped me settle into the back seat. Bobby followed and Lester took the front passenger seat for himself, then Brock climbed in behind the wheel. "The sweetest thing about this entire situation was when Judge Milford told his family that they were paying to cover your court fees and travel expenses."

I grinned. "The looks on their faces were priceless, but we brought the company jet here, so I'm not sure what the cost of flying it for the day would be."

"You just get me an invoice from your company for the costs and I'll submit it to the court for you. Even if they only end up having to pay a percentage of the cost, it's still worth it."

I reached forward and placed a hand on his shoulder, catching his attention in the mirror. "I know you told me you'd do this pro bono, but between the sale of the house and land, Aaron's accidental death policy and the payout from his company to avoid a civil suit, I just inherited nearly three quarter of a million dollars. I want you to take your cut."

I caught Brock's scowl in the mirror. "Sienna, the sale of the house and land was your money."

"So, deduct your portion from the rest of it," I replied. "You had to pay people to work on my case. Which means you lost money to do this. At the very least I want you to cover your expenses."

"Fine," he replied. "I'll figure out a number that is fair to both of us."

"Good." I eased back into the seat. "After we get all the paperwork taken care of, we need to go to dinner to celebrate. Now that I don't have to worry so much about money, I'm buying."

"After dinner," Lester said. "We'll need to swing by Brock's house."

I frowned. "Why?"

"So, we can pick Ruger up before we head back."

For a moment I was too shocked by his statement to move. "I can't have a dog."

Bobby grinned. "Yes, you can. We already called Ranger and cleared it with him. Besides, Stephanie has the world's oldest hamster as a pet, and Tank has three cats. So, there's no good reason why you can't have your dog."

All I could do was sit back and cry.

We touched down at Mercer Trenton airport a little after seven and was back to Rangeman by eight o'clock. In the back seat, I leaned against Bobby while Ruger lay next to me with his head in my lap. Lester drove. He pulled into the garage and parked. It had been a long day and I was beyond tired.

"Hey." Bobby nudged me. "You still awake?"

"Yeah." I shifted and pushed off him to sit up, then turned to look up at the building and a weird sense of peace settled over me.

"What's that look for?" Bobby asked, as Lester opened the door for me to exit.

"Nothing," I replied while I stepped out and situated myself on my crutches.

"It wasn't nothing," Bobby said as he followed, Ruger's leash in his hand. "The expression on your face was so peaceful looking. I haven't seen it before."

I stopped to look at the building again and the same feeling befell me. "It's just…I don't know. It feels like I'm finally home."