Chapter 6 - The Bed They Reserved
Diagnosis listed:
Severe attachment disorder.
Violent behavioral episodes.
Parental rejection.
None of it was true.
“Who submitted the records?” I asked.
“Dr. Nathan Sloan.”
“And who authorized placement?”
“Mrs. Valentina Falcone.”
“Without my signature?”
“There is a paternal consent form.”
Ruby was supposed to be transferred Sunday night.
The guardianship hearing was Monday.
The board vote Tuesday.
I went downstairs where Valentina was being kept in the west sitting room under guard.
She stood when I entered.
“Where is Ethan?”
“Safe.”
“He’s my son.”
“Yes.”
“And Ruby isn’t mine.”
The words came out before she could stop them.
I stared at her.
There it was.
Not strategy.
Not family politics.
The truth.
Valentina immediately tried to recover.
“I mean biologically.”
“You packed a three-year-old’s room because she wasn’t biologically yours?”
“You don’t understand what Marcus was facing.”
“Then explain.”
She sat down.
Marcus had borrowed heavily to buy into Orison Capital.
He expected the waterfront sale to make him rich enough to cover the debt.
When Isabella refused years earlier, he lost investors.
After she died, he waited for another opening.
Me.
Valentina married me.
“At first it was supposed to be access,” she whispered.
“And after?”
“I loved you.”
“No.”
“I did.”
“You loved the house. The name. The board seat.”
“I loved you too.”
I leaned closer.
“You put my daughter in a behavioral facility.”
Her face crumpled.
“Marcus said it would only be for a few weeks.”
“She’s three.”
“I know.”
“No. You don’t.”
Then I asked the question that mattered.
“Why did Marcus attack me tonight?”
Valentina looked toward the door.
“He thought you already knew about the money.”
“What money?”
She closed her eyes.
“The money missing from Orison.”
“How much?”
“Fourteen million.”
That was when Luca opened the door.
“Domenico.”
I turned.
May you like
He held a bank report.
“Make that eighteen.”
