Chapter 1
For several seconds after Alessandra struck Gavin, nobody moved.
The underground garage seemed to absorb the violence.
A garment bag hung half-open from the overturned luggage cart. Tobin’s drawings lay across the concrete beside expensive gift boxes from the reception upstairs.
Alessandra did not look at Gavin.
She looked at her son.
Tobin stood inside her suit jacket, his small hands wrapped around the stuffed shark.
His lips were pale.
Alessandra crouched.
Her voice changed completely.
Soft.
Controlled.
“When did you eat?”
Tobin looked toward Gavin.
His father’s breathing was still heavy from the blow, but the moment the child’s eyes found him, Gavin’s jaw tightened.
Alessandra saw it.
Tobin saw it too.
The little boy immediately lowered his head.
Michael Reed stepped closer.
“Boss.”
Gavin snapped around.
“Stay out of this.”
Michael stopped.
Not because Gavin frightened him.
Because Alessandra slowly raised one hand.
Everyone went silent.
She turned toward Michael.
“Speak.”
Michael’s eyes moved briefly toward Tobin.
“He was here when I started my shift.”
Alessandra’s fingers stopped moving against her signet ring.
“What time?”
“Seven this morning.”
It was after four in the afternoon.
Alessandra looked toward Gavin.
He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
“This wasn't supposed to last this long.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“Supposed to?”
Gavin realized what he had said.
Too late.
Sybil stepped forward.
“He needed consequences.”
Alessandra finally looked at her mother-in-law.
“For what?”
Sybil’s chin lifted.
“He refuses to accept Vanessa and her son.”
Tobin pressed himself against Alessandra’s shoulder.
Her eyes closed briefly.
When they opened, the entire garage felt colder.
She looked at Gavin again.
“How long have you had a child with this woman?”
Nobody answered.
Then Tobin whispered against her neck.
“Daddy said you'd pick the meeting instead of me.”
Alessandra went completely still.
Gavin’s face changed.
May you like
Because Tobin had just revealed something worse than neglect.
Someone had wanted the child to believe his mother would not come.
