Four's POVThe courtroom was smaller than I expected. Plain beige walls, fluorescent lights humming overhead, rows of empty benches behind us. Monte sat between Veronica and me, his legs swinging because they did not reach the floor. He wore the little suit Beverly had bought him for the occasion, navy blue with a red tie. He looked so grown up it made my chest tight.Judge Martinez reviewed the paperwork with practised efficiency. There were no objections because Jason was dead and his parents had no legal standing to block the adoption. Our lawyer had confirmed it twice. Still, my heart pounded as the judge looked up at us over her reading glasses."Monte," she said kindly. "Do you understand why you are here today?""Yes," Monte said clearly. "So Four can be my daddy for real.""He is not your daddy already?""He is," Monte said seriously. "But now it will be on paper too. So everyone knows."Judge Martinez smiled. "And you want this? You want Mr Lasombra to adopt you?""Yes," Mont
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