Chapter 2
Marcus laughed at first.
It was nervous.
Thin.
Wrong.
“What the hell is wrong with him?” he asked, looking at his father.
Harrison stayed bent over the trash can, one hand gripping the rim.
His expensive coat shook.
Dad did not look surprised.
That scared me more than anything.
He picked up his hearing aids and slid them back in.
“Harrison Vance,” he said quietly. “Still hiding behind better-dressed cowards.”
Marcus’s face twisted.
“You know my father?”
Dad’s eyes never left Harrison.
“I know what he did.”
Harrison wiped his mouth with a shaking hand.
“Thomas.”
My dad’s name sounded like a confession.
Marcus stood.
“Dad, what is he talking about?”
Harrison shook his head.
“Sit down.”
“No. Explain.”
Dad reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded paper.
Not a weapon.
Not what Marcus expected.
A court order.
He placed it on the tray beside Lily’s bassinet.
“Emergency protective order,” Dad said. “Against Marcus Vance.”
Marcus stared.
“That’s impossible.”
I lifted my eyes.
“It was signed this morning.”
His head snapped toward me.
“You did this?”
“No,” I said. “You did.”
Dad nodded toward the stuffed bunny.
“The room is recording.”
Marcus’s face changed.
He looked at the bunny.
Then at me.
Then at the locked door.
For the first time since I married him, he looked afraid.
Harrison grabbed his arm.
“Don’t say another word.”
But Marcus was already unraveling.
“You stupid woman.”
Dad stepped forward.
Marcus stepped back.
The door knocked.
Three sharp taps.
“Charlotte Police. Open the door.”
Dad unlocked it.
Detective Mara Ellis entered with two officers and a hospital security supervisor.
Behind them stood Judge Caroline Reed.
Older.
Calm.
Powerful.
Marcus stared at her.
Harrison whispered, “Caroline.”
The judge looked at him like he was something she had scraped off her shoe.
“Hello, Harrison.”
I held Lily tighter.
Because now I understood.
This was not only about my bruises.
May you like
This was about history.
And my father had brought it into the room.
