Mona, Private Investigator.James Valentino was one of those clients you just couldn't say no to.I've had a few high-profile cases before, and even those guys didn't pay as well as Mr. Valentino. Sure, it was sometimes hard to get in touch with him, but oh boy, he paid on time and more than what was asked.So, naturally, I wasn't going to complain when his investigation led me to the Sirens dance club at 3;00 AM.The bouncer at the entrance eyed me suspiciously as I approached the door. They probably didn't get a lot of women, and from what I read on its website, it was supposed to be a slow day."Identification." He extended his hand toward me. As if I could pass for someone under 21."Here you go, sir," I said, slipping a $100 bill under it. He glanced at my ID for a split second and returned it, sans the bill. There really was no reason for him to turn me down, but the little extra was just to ensure I got what I wanted. Surely enough, he o
James.I woke to my phone ringing urgently. Only Tony and the PI could break through the silent mode on my phone, so I knew, either way, it was urgent.It turned out, I'd fallen asleep INSIDE Becca, so I had to delicately extricate myself from her. I tried not to wake her as I pulled out and rolled to get my phone. It was the PI."Just a second," I whispered into the phone as I stood and grabbed a robe.My attempts to let Becca sleep were in vain, however, because she rolled on her back and looked up at me. "James?""I'll be back, luscious," I assured her. "I just have to take this call."Becca frowned a little, but nodded. "Okay."I smiled at the love of my life, then stepped out onto the balcony and closed the door behind me. "Yes?" I said."Sir, I think I may have a witness," the PI replied quickly in a no-nonsense tone on the other end. "It's touch and go—I don't know if I can get her to testify—but I'm working on her.""Witness? Witness to what?" I asked eagerly.
Becca.Life at home was strangely, and blessedly, normal. While James took frustrating call after frustrating call, Alessandro and Dahlia were completely oblivious to the danger around them. They played with Layla, James, and me, ate, slept, and had not a care in the world.Antoinette even came over from time to time for coffee, and we'd talk openly about what was going on in our lives. It was refreshing to have someone "normal" to talk to about such things.Two days from the trial, James was looking increasingly harried, but the kids were still happy as could be. Alessandro was sucking down an applesauce pouch and Dahlia was making a mess of some puréed peaches.When the doorbell rang, I assumed it was Antoinette. I put Alessandro on my hip and went to the door.I stumbled back when I saw who it was. "Allegra!"Allegra looked worn down. She had a pack over one shoulder and a sad loneliness in her eyes. "Is she here?" Allegra asked.I blinked several times, then called ba
Becca."F*ck," Alessandro said over breakfast while munching apple slices in his highchair.I kept bottle-feeding Dahlia, mentally counting backwards from twenty and trying not to panic over Alessandro's new obsession. I wished my father was there to help. He'd know how to take care of the swearing.James came into the nursery, then. Alessandro's face lit up and he held out chubby little arms. "F*ck!" he insisted."I think he wants you to pick him up," I muttered."Of course that's what it means," James sighed. He lifted the sticky little boy into his arms and looked around. "Where's Layla?""Allegra invited her to stay at a hotel last night. I know she said she won't leave us until after the trial, but if Allegra has to leave, and Layla wants to go with her…" I said.James groaned and went to the Pack 'n Play to get wet wipes. He started cleaning Alessandro off."F*ck," Alessandro grumped with a pout when James went to clean his face."I think he doesn't want you wip
Becca.I wore a gray pencil skirt and a black blouse, sitting next to James and Ms. Loveless while the judge took the bench. The Cartwright side of the courtroom was made up of a troop of lawyers. I wondered why Ms. Loveless hadn't brought every employee in her office as well. It certainly was intimidating—looking at the other side."All rise for Judge Hopper," the bailiff intoned.Everyone rose, including Layla, who was sitting behind us with the two kids."Please be seated," Judge Hopper said, taking his seat. He wore the black judge's robes, of course, which made me think of depictions of Death.I swallowed, feeling the blood drain from my face. James took my hand."Now, I understand this is a custody hearing," Judge Hopper mumbled. He was a bit elderly, and if not hard of hearing, at least hard to hear."Yes, your honor," Chad's lawyer said, rising in his chair. "We would like to remove Alessandro Valentino from Rebecca Woods's custody and place him with his father an
Becca.James had to take a call as soon as we got back to the house. He said he would be a while, so I decided to take the kids to the park.Layla came with me, pushing the double-stroller with Dahlia in it while I carried Alessandro. I was honestly afraid to put him down, afraid he might be snatched away.I saw Antoinette sitting on the bench again, watching her little girl. I walked over, Layla and the stroller in my wake.Antoinette stood suddenly and looked around. She put her hands on my shoulders. "Becca, you can't be here. They've gone all Stepford Wives—""Well, well, well. If it isn't Rebecca Woods," a new voice sneered.I turned around, noting that Layla had been pushed aside with the stroller and that I was now staring at five blonde, perfectly manicured women who looked as though they had just come from a tennis club."Yes?" I said, while Antoinette fell silent."I hear they're planning to take that little one away from you," the ringleader at the front said
James.I slept nestled into my favorite places—my face nestled in Becca's neck, my hand nestled around one of her breasts, my c*ck nestled between her legs. It was bliss, and it was a necessary reprieve from the Alessandro debacle. I couldn't imagine losing that little boy any more than Becca could. If it came down to it, and it looked as though it would, I was going to talk with Tony about kidnapping. It was an insane move, but this was an insane situation.Speaking of Tony, my cell phone rang on the bedside table. It was Tony's ring, and one of the very few that could bypass the silent mode.Becca stirred, but I kissed the back of her neck as I gently pulled out of her and smoothed the hair away from her cheek. "I'll be right back, baby," I murmured, then went to grab my phone while covering Becca with the blankets."Yes?" I asked in a clipped tone, walking out onto the balcony stark naked and closing the door behind me."We have a problem," Tony said without preamble.
Becca.The trial resumed too soon. It was all I could do not to reach behind me and pluck Alessandro from Layla so I could hold him in my lap. I was terrified this was one of the few opportunities I'd ever have to hold him again."Bruce, good to see you today," Judge Hopper said to Chad's lawyer as soon as he took the bench.Kensington's smile was oily. "Judge, has it really been a whole weekend?""It has! Though do tell your mother her roast is delicious," Judge Hopper grinned."Of course I will, your honor," Kensington smiled back.Ms. Loveless looked about ready to spit tacks."Anyway, getting back to the matter at hand," Judge Hopper said, clearing his throat, "I hear Mr. Chad Cartwright wanted to testify on his own behalf?""He does, your honor," Kensington replied.Judge Hopper made a summoning motion. "Well, bring him in, then."I turned my head as the courtroom doors opened, and for the first time in over a year, I saw Chad Cartwright—the cowardly, abusiv