All Chapters of Dangerously mine: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

FIONA“Fiona, did you forget to file the witness statements for the Delaney case?”My stomach dropped so fast it almost hurt.I had.“I’m so sorry, Luna. I meant to do it yesterday, but depositions ran late and it just— I’ll do it now.”She gave me the look that meant fix it before Mr. Hale notices and walked off.We were one clerk short and drowning in trial prep. I’d been living off caffeine, bagels, and pure anxiety. My brain felt like static as I disappeared into the file room and started sorting, stamping and organizing.Robert Delaney’s name glared up at me from every document. Rich and Powerful. Accused of white-collar crime that could bury smaller men. Cases like this sucked the air out of the office. Everyone walked faster. Talked sharper. Slept less.I worked without stopping.When I finally checked my phone, my heart stopped.5:02 PM.Ten missed calls.From Reagent premier school.My blood ran cold.Flavian.I was supposed to pick him up.I shoved the files into their fol

The school parking lot was already half full when I pulled in. Sunlight bounced off windshields, stabbing straight through my skull. Tiffany Farrow’s card sat in my bag like a ticking device.Routine.That’s what she called it.My chest didn’t believe her.Inside, the hallway buzzed with morning noise. Then I heard it — that voice. Calm. Measured. Controlled.My hand curled into a fist.Him.“Mom,” Flavian said softly, “I can walk the rest of the way.”He could see it on my face. The storm.“Okay, baby.” I knelt. “Some people might come to ask you some questions today.Teachers. Maybe your friends. Just answer honestly. Everything’s okay, I promise.”He nodded. “Okay.”I kissed his forehead and watched him disappear into the hall, every step he took feeling like something being pulled out of my chest.I’d warned Luna I’d be late. The school had already been informed about the complaint, which meant this meeting wasn’t optional.Fantastic.I reached the principal’s office. The secretar

My grandmother had always looked like she belonged in a different era.Wide hips, long jet-black hair, steady hands. Mexican to the bone. Strong in a way that didn’t need announcing.I looked nothing like her.After showing up in the middle of the night like an omen, she took one sniff of my wine breath and ordered me to bed. No discussion. We’d talk in the morning.Now, sunlight spilled through the kitchen, and coffee brewed like this was just another holiday visit.“Sit,” she said.I obeyed despite myself.“Your grandfather and I were at the club,” she began. “We missed a call from the school. They said you were hours late picking up Flavian.” Her eyes hardened. “They also said you’re under investigation for possible child neglect.”The word hit like a slap.“I don’t even know how this became a thing, its all just a huge misunderstanding”“Then explain it.”So I did. The man. The accusation. CPS. The interviews.She listened without interrupting.“So a stranger decided you’re unfit

I stopped sulking when it stopped accomplishing anything.Grandma left the morning after our argument. She hugged me too tightly, said it hadn’t been an ambush but only love expressed in a way i did not appreciate. I nodded like I understood. I didn’t. Love wasn’t supposed to feel like criticism.But I was done spiraling, replaying conversations in my head and feeling sorry for myself.Work was something I could control so i buried myself in it.By Sunday night, I still hadn’t checked my phone for a text from the case worker. A small victory. I laid out one of my favorite suits for Monday and wrapped my hair in heatless curlers before bed.My alarm rang and I groaned.Coffee came first. I let it wake my brain before getting Flavian ready for school. An hour later, we sat at the breakfast table, the morning light soft through the blinds.“You look really pretty today, Mommy,” he said around a mouthful of peanut butter sandwich.My chest warmed. “Thank you, baby.''The curls had com