Every Society member who has been wronged by Abel is given an opportunity to speak, and there are many of them. It goes on for what feels like hours, and another wave of emotion crashes over me, exhaustion mingling with finality. I haven’t witnessed a Society execution before. This will be the first I’ve attended, and hopefully my last. They do happen, though not commonly. It takes a lot for The Tribunal to hand down a sentence such as this. I only know I will be grateful when it’s over. Despite my resolve to keep my emotions in check, my eyes sting with unshed tears as the weight of it all settles over me. This is it. The culmination of all my grief—all the tension between my brother and me, the painful memories, and the past we didn’t know we’d ever be able to leave behind. After today, there’s no doubt in my mind we will. We’ll have no choice.

“It’s our turn,” I whisper to Santi.

He nods, and Judge releases me reluctantly. Together, Santi and I walk up to the platform, standing before the smug asshole who sent our lives spiraling into chaos and misery. Santi holds me close, and I stare at the face of the man I swear I will never allow to haunt us again. He refuses to meet my eyes, refuses to act as if he cares about the fate about to befall him.

Santi speaks to him first, low and vicious, his words unfaltering. I only catch a few of them, lost in my own thoughts, unable to take my eyes off the man who will cease to exist after this day. I consider my own words to him, if there is anything I need to say, but I realize as my brother finishes, Abel Moreno neither deserves nor cares about my thoughts or feelings. Santi seems to sense this, and when he finishes, he turns us both to take our leave until I halt him.

I pull away from him, stepping close to Abel as I steel all my strength, and he finally dares another smug glance at my face. No, I certainly have no speech for him. But I do have something. I hurl my disgust and venom from my lips, spitting into his face.

“I will do the same to your grave,” I tell him with a smile. “Enjoy your death, you miserable bastard. You’ve earned it.”

21

Judge

Capital punishment is legal in the state of Louisiana, but no one has been put to death in over a decade. The last execution carried out by the state was voluntary.

The Tribunal is a different matter. Abel Moreno’s execution was one of two that took place in my lifetime. My personal beliefs don’t matter when it comes to my courtroom, but I am grateful never to have had to sentence someone to such a fate.