Chapter 12 - The Day They Tried to Take Leo Away|
There are few things more terrifying than watching someone use a child as a weapon.
Vincent Moretti understood that perfectly.
By eight the following morning, Iris had obtained copies of the emergency petition and the accompanying complaints.
I read every page.
Then I read them again.
The accusations made me sick.
According to Vincent, Luca was an unstable father whose criminal connections endangered his child.
The petition claimed Leo had been neglected since Sofia's death.
It described me as an unqualified stranger who had manipulated a grieving widower to gain access to his fortune.
I stopped reading.
"Manipulated?"
I looked at Iris.
"Does he seriously believe anyone will accept this?"
Iris's expression was grim.
"He's hoping that someone will act before examining the evidence."
Luca stood near the window.
He hadn't spoken in nearly ten minutes.
I could see the tension in his shoulders.
"Can he actually take Leo?" I asked.
"Not simply because he filed a petition," Iris explained.
"Vincent has no automatic right to custody while Leo has a living, capable parent."
I exhaled.
"But?"
"The allegations could trigger an investigation, and he is requesting emergency action."
Luca turned.
"How soon?"
"There's a hearing scheduled for Monday."
I stared at her.
"Three days?"
"Yes."
I looked at the papers again.
One statement came from Caroline Price.
The woman who'd visited the estate.
Another claimed that a former employee had witnessed Luca leaving Leo unattended.
The employee's name was unfamiliar.
Iris tapped the page.
"We've already discovered that this person never worked in your household."
"Then why would they sign it?"
Luca answered quietly.
"Because Vincent paid them."
I looked at him.
"Can we prove it?"
"Not yet."
He walked toward the table.
"Vincent wants me to panic."
"Are you?"
Luca glanced at the photograph of Leo beside his phone.
"Yes."
The honesty surprised me.
He sat down.
"I can handle threats against my businesses."
He swallowed.
"I've handled worse."
His voice cracked.
"But I don't know how to prepare for someone taking my son."
I reached for his hand.
"Nobody's taking him without a fight."
He looked at me.
I squeezed his fingers.
"And we're going to fight with the truth."
That afternoon, Iris arranged a meeting with the appropriate investigators.
Gianna provided statements documenting Leo's care since Sofia died.
The pediatrician confirmed that Leo was healthy, receiving regular medical attention, and developing normally.
The household employees described Luca's daily involvement.
And I supplied the messages threatening me for approaching the family.
For the first time, the evidence began telling a different story.
Not one about an unfit father.
One about an uncle determined to control his nephew through fear.
But I knew Vincent wouldn't stop there.
He had spent years hiding financial crimes.
A family court filing was simply another weapon.
That evening, I returned to the guest suite and began packing.
Luca found me folding a sweater.
His expression changed.
"You're leaving."
I didn't look up.
"I'm going to stay with June."
"Why?"
"Because Vincent is using me against you."
"Avery."
"If I'm not living here, he loses one of his arguments."
Luca approached slowly.
"That's not how this works."
"Maybe not."
I swallowed.
"But I won't be the reason Leo gets dragged through a fight."
He took the sweater from my hands and set it gently on the bed.
"You are not the reason."
I looked up.
"Your uncle says I am."
"My uncle is a liar."
"That doesn't mean the accusation won't hurt."
Luca studied me.
Then his expression softened.
"Do you want to leave because you're afraid, or because you think I need you to?"
I couldn't answer.
He waited.
That was the hardest part.
He always waited when the answer mattered.
Finally, I whispered, "I don't want to leave."
His shoulders relaxed.
"Then don't leave on Vincent's behalf."
Tears filled my eyes.
"I don't know what I'm doing here."
Luca reached for my hand.
"Neither do I."
I laughed shakily.
"That's reassuring."
He smiled.
"But I know Leo is happier when you're around."
I looked away.
"And I know I am too."
My heart stumbled.
"Luca."
He stepped closer.
"I'm not asking you to save us."
His voice was gentle.
"I'm asking you to stop believing that caring about us makes you dangerous."
I closed my eyes.
I wanted to believe him.
Then a small voice sounded from the doorway.
"Da!"
We turned.
Gianna stood holding Leo.
The little boy was reaching toward his father.
Luca crossed the room and scooped him into his arms.
Leo immediately grabbed his hair.
I laughed.
"He's still working on manners."
Luca winced.
"Apparently."
Then Leo reached toward me.
His tiny hand opened and closed.
I stepped closer.
"Hello, troublemaker."
He touched my cheek.
Then he rested his head against mine.
For one brief moment, the world became very small.
A father.
A child.
A woman who hadn't expected to love either of them.
I looked at Luca.
"Okay."
He studied my face.
"Okay?"
"I'm staying."
His expression changed.
Relief moved across it so openly that I almost cried again.
Then Iris called.
Luca answered.
He listened without speaking.
When he hung up, his face had gone pale.
"What happened?" I asked.
He looked at me.
"Greg came forward."
My stomach tightened.
"With what?"
"Records showing Vincent paid people to manufacture complaints against me."
I felt hope rise.
Then Luca continued.
"And Greg identified Daniel Cross as the man who threatened Sofia before her accident."
My breath caught.
"How does he know?"
"Daniel came to Belladonna looking for her three days before she died."
I stared at him.
"Greg saw them?"
"He saved the footage."
Luca's voice became hard.
"And Sofia left the restaurant crying."
I looked down at Leo.
He was playing with my necklace again.
May you like
Somewhere, buried beneath threats and lies, was the truth about his mother.
And we were finally close enough to touch it.
