Chapter 2 - The Hidden Ledger
Victoria stared down at the black-and-white header on the legal papers: Emergency Ex Parte Restraining Order and Suspension of Parental Rights.
"You set me up," Victoria whispered, her voice shaking with venom. "You planned this whole thing. You hired this little stray to bait me!"
"You baited yourself, Victoria," Marcus replied, his gaze never wavering. He looked down at the screaming infant in Elena’s arms, his rigid jaw softening for just a fraction of a second. "Elena. Take Leo up to the third-floor nursery. Lock the deadbolt from the inside."
"Yes, Mr. Vance," Elena stammered, her knees knocking together as she side-stepped Victoria’s trembling silhouette. She kept her head down, but as she passed, Victoria lunged sideways, her fingers clamping around Elena’s wrist like a steel bear trap.
"If you take my son up those stairs, little girl, I will ruin your life," Victoria hissed into Elena's ear. "I know about the clinic in Chicago. I know who you really are."
Elena’s heart stopped. The world seemed to tilt beneath her feet.
Before Elena could utter a syllable, Marcus grabbed Victoria’s wrist, squeezing the pressure point until she let out a sharp gasp and released her grip.
"Get out of my house," Marcus commanded, shoving her arm down. "Now."
Elena didn't look back. She sprinted up the sweeping marble staircase, taking the steps two at a time while cradling Leo’s head against her neck. She burst into the third-floor nursery, slammed the heavy mahogany door shut, and turned the brass deadbolt with a distinct, heavy thud.
Inside the quiet room, the noise of the grand estate fell away, replaced only by Leo’s rhythmic hiccups and the frantic thumping of Elena’s chest.
She collapsed into the glider chair by the bay window, unbuckling the carrier with trembling fingers. She gently lifted the baby onto her lap, checking his small limbs, his head, his tiny ribs. Not a mark on him. He had been spared every blow.
"You're okay, sweet boy," Elena whispered, tears blurring her vision as she rocked him back and forth. "You're safe. I've got you."
Leo blinked up at her through damp eyelashes, reaching one tiny hand up to grasp Elena’s thumb. As his breathing slowed to a soft, even rhythm, Elena pulled her phone from her apron pocket. Her hands shook violently.
She opened an encrypted messaging app and stared at the last message received three hours ago from an unknown number:
May you like
Marcus doesn't know you took the second ledger from the Chicago archive. Bring it to the south gate tonight at midnight, or I tell him who Leo’s biological mother really is.
Elena choked down a sob, clutching Leo tighter to her chest as thunder rumbled ominously in the distance outside the nursery window.
