Chapter 1
Nico did not question Gavin first.
He carried Mila away from the bench.
Her sobs had become smaller now, the frightened kind that barely made sound.
One side of her hair hung to her shoulder.
The other ended abruptly where Sabrina’s scissors had gone through the braid.
Nico’s hand moved toward the uneven strands.
He stopped before touching them.
His eyes lifted instead.
“Sienna.”
His daughter stood beside the SUV.
Thirty-eight weeks pregnant.
One hand beneath her belly.
The other braced against the vehicle.
Her breathing was shallow.
Too shallow.
Nico crossed to her.
“Did he push you?”
Sienna looked toward Gavin.
That was answer enough.
Gavin wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and straightened his jacket.
His arrogance was already returning.
“She slipped.”
Mila immediately buried her face against Nico’s shoulder.
Her tiny fingers tightened around his lapel.
Nico felt it.
He looked at Gavin.
“Say it again.”
Gavin’s jaw shifted.
No answer.
Marjorie stepped forward.
“This family has spent months indulging Sienna’s nerves.”
Nico’s eyes moved toward her.
Marjorie stopped.
Not because he threatened her.
Because he didn’t.
The garage had gone completely quiet.
Nico lowered Mila into the arms of a trusted female staff member.
“Take her upstairs. Stay with her.”
Mila clung harder.
“No.”
Nico crouched.
Her breathing hitched.
“Grandpa…”
“What?”
She looked at Sabrina.
Sabrina’s hand still held the scissors.
Mila whispered:
“Aunt Sabrina took Mommy’s phone.”
Sienna’s head snapped up.
Sabrina’s fingers tightened.
Nico saw both reactions.
He rose.
“Where is it?”
Sabrina recovered first.
“I don’t know what she’s talking about.”
Mila started crying again.
Nico did not look away from Sabrina.
“She’s three.”
His voice became quieter.
“You needed scissors to make her stop talking.”
Sabrina’s confidence flickered.
Sienna pushed herself away from the SUV.
“My phone was in my handbag.”
Marjorie immediately spoke.
“You left it upstairs.”
Sienna slowly looked at her.
“No.”
A long pause.
“I brought it down because I was recording.”
Gavin stopped moving.
Nico’s eyes shifted to his daughter.
“Recording what?”
Sienna swallowed.
Her hand moved protectively over the baby.
“The conversation I heard before he pushed me.”
Gavin’s breathing changed.
Nico saw it.
Before anyone could answer, one of the bodyguards called from the security desk.
“Boss.”
Nico turned.
The man held up a tablet.
“The garage cameras were disabled fourteen minutes before Mrs. Cole and Sabrina brought Mila down here.”
Nico looked toward Gavin.
Then Marjorie.
Then Sabrina.
The bodyguard continued.
“It wasn't a malfunction.”
May you like
A beat.
“Someone scheduled the shutdown yesterday.”
