Chapter 4

Leah turned.

Bianca held Matteo’s arm. Nico stood between them, with two guards behind.

The attendant’s smile faltered.

Matteo stared at Finn.

“Aren’t you going to say hello?”

Finn hid behind Leah.

She took their two tickets.

“He doesn’t want to.”

Bianca touched Matteo’s arm.

“Leave it. He’s still upset.”

She bought Nico a ticket, looking every inch the reasonable one.

The two-seat cars moved slowly along an enclosed track.

Beside Leah, Finn finally relaxed enough to smile.

At the turn ahead, Nico’s car stopped.

He looked back at them, his smile changing.

“Mom says you’re the reason Uncle Matteo can’t be my dad.”

Leah’s foot moved toward the brake.

“If you died, he could be my dad!”

Nico shouted across the track.

“Go die!”

He steered his car across the narrow exit.

Leah braked, but the car behind them couldn’t stop in time.

The impact threw her forward.

She reached for Finn.

His forehead still struck the side of the car. Blood ran over his eyebrow.

He screamed.

Staff shut down the ride.

Matteo and Bianca arrived as Nico threw himself into her arms.

“She crashed into me on purpose!”

“No!” Finn sobbed. “He blocked us!”

Matteo looked at the cars.

“You’re saying a little boy planned to hurt you?”

Leah pressed a clean handkerchief against Finn’s forehead.

“Check the cameras. Ask the staff.”

Bianca’s face tightened.

“He’s still recovering. He can’t handle this fright. We should get him to the hospital.”

“Finn needs treatment, too.”

Leah lifted him and headed for the exit.

A guard stepped into her path.

She looked at Matteo.

“Move them.”

“First, explain what happened.”

“Your son is bleeding. Can’t you see him?”

Matteo glanced at Finn’s pale face.

Before he could speak, Bianca started crying.

“She was glaring at Nico. She terrified him. At least make her apologize.”

Matteo didn’t stop her.

The guards stayed where they were.

“Apologize,” he said. “Then my driver will take you.”

Finn’s voice weakened against Leah’s shoulder.

“Mom, I feel dizzy.”

Every argument died in her throat.

“I’m sorry.”

Bianca said nothing. She held Nico close, her wounded expression firmly in place.

Matteo looked at her, then snapped at Leah.

“You call that an apology?”

Leah looked at the blocked exit.

Then at the child going pale in her arms.

She dropped hard to her knees.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have argued. Please let me take Finn to the hospital. Please.”

Matteo’s expression changed.

He reached to help her.

She avoided his hand, pushed herself upright, and ran through the gap the guards finally left.

At the hospital, a doctor cleaned Finn’s wound and administered a local anesthetic.

Finn still shook with fear.

He wouldn’t let go of Leah’s hand.

She bent over the bed.

“I’m here. No one’s taking you away this time.”

Once he slept, she went to collect his medication.

Passing a private lounge, she heard Bianca.

“Nico was just frightened. Go check on Finn.”

A pause.

“Leah got on her knees today. I’m worried she’ll take him and leave.”

Leah stopped outside the door.

Matteo sounded certain.

“She won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“She found out I’d been lying for five years, and she stayed in that basement.”

A cup touched its saucer.

“If she can accept that, why would she leave?”

His voice softened.

“Finn’s the same. A little attention, and he’ll be fine.”

Leah tightened her grip on the medication bag.

She didn’t open the door.

She didn’t make a sound.

Back in the room, Finn was still asleep.

She sat beside him and slipped her hand under the blanket to hold his.

She’d thought Matteo couldn’t see what they sacrificed for him.

Now she understood.

He saw everything.

That was why he believed they’d stay, whatever he did.

Her phone vibrated.

The attorney said the court proceedings were nearly complete. In the submitted paperwork, Matteo had signed his agreement to the divorce and to Finn remaining in Leah’s care.

She replied:

*Okay.*

She already had a job in another city. A landlord there had confirmed their move-in date.

Once Finn could leave the hospital, they were going.

Discharge day arrived under a gray sky.

They’d barely reached the corner when a dark van stopped beside them.

The door slid open.

A hand caught Leah’s arm.

She didn’t get a full scream out before they dragged her and Finn inside.

When she regained consciousness, she was lying in a warehouse at an abandoned shipyard.

Finn lay beside her with his wrists bound, trying to cry quietly.

A man crouched in front of her, holding her phone.

“The Vitale boss’s wife and son. Not a single guard.”

He showed her Matteo’s number.

“Call him.”