Chapter 8 - The Children Were Leverage
I found Ethan building a tower with Ruby in the playroom.
Ruby put a block on top.
It fell.
Ethan laughed.
I sat on the floor.
“Ethan, did your mom take you to Dr. Sloan?”
“He asked if you yell.”
“Do you?”
“Sometimes.”
“So do I.”
He smiled.
Then his face changed.
“Mom said I had to tell him you scare me.”
“Do I?”
He shook his head hard.
Ruby stopped playing.
“No send Ethan.”
I looked at both of them.
“No one is sending either of you anywhere tonight.”
Ethan whispered, “Mom said we might live with Uncle Marcus.”
If Valentina could not control Ruby alone, she would remove both children, claim I was dangerous, and use the chaos to seize temporary control.
Luca filed emergency motions to block every guardianship petition.
The court froze all changes to the children’s residence.
Judge Kessler suddenly recused himself.
Too late.
Prosecutors were already looking at his relationship with Marcus.
By evening, a state judge appointed an independent child advocate.
The advocate interviewed Ruby first.
“What happens at dinner?” she asked.
Ruby looked at me.
I stepped out.
Ten minutes later, the advocate came into the hallway.
Her face was controlled.
“What did she say?” I asked.
“She said Mrs. Falcone sometimes made her eat in the kitchen when guests came.”
My chest tightened.
“How often?”
“She can’t measure time well.”
“What else?”
“She said her mother’s picture was taken from her room because it made Mrs. Falcone angry.”
I leaned against the wall.
Then Nico approached with another recovered message.
It was between Valentina and Marcus.
VALENTINA: Dom notices Ruby more when she cries.
MARCUS: Then teach her not to cry.
Below it was Valentina’s reply.
Working on it.
I read those two words until my vision blurred.
Then a scream came from the playroom.
I ran inside.
May you like
Ethan stood by the window.
Ruby was gone.
