Brody stood stunned. Diego? Did Brody understand him correctly? Did Diego know what he was signing up for?
For the first time all day, Brody didn’t know what to say.
But Judge Mora had heard enough. “I’m going to adjourn for a few minutes. Bailiff, please bring the boys into my chambers so that I can chat with them privately.” She banged her gavel and stood. Everyone stood as well and watched as she left the room through the same door she’d entered.
Kelly glared at Brody, Diego, and Aaron before she stormed out of the courtroom, followed by her flustered lawyer. Aaron put his hand on Brody’s shoulder. “I’m gonna go talk to Audra and tell the kids what’s going on. You two…” Aaron chuckled and waved his hand at them before he headed out of the room.
Then it was just the two of them. Brody turned his chair to face Diego. “You cut your hair,” he said, the first thing that jumped to his mind.
Diego reached up and touched where it used to brush his shoulders. “Yeah. It was time. Kind of holding me back from growing up, I guess.”
“I liked it long.” Brody reached out with his hand to cover Diego’s wrist. “What are you doing here?”
“Like you said. Whatever it takes to keep them safe.” Diego tilted his head as he caught Brody’s gaze. “You should’ve told me about the seizure. What happened?”
Brody shook his head. “I was dumb. It’s all my fault, and I was embarrassed to let you know that I’d lied to you.”
“You stopped taking the meds.” Diego shut his eyes tight. “How did I not think of that?”
Brody nodded. “Yeah, I fucked up big time.”
“Yes, you did. I told you I didn’t care about it. Wouldn’t have mattered to me.” Diego flipped his hand around and laced his fingers with Brody’s hand, that small touch grounding him. “Are you okay now?”
“Yeah. The docs at the hospital are trying me on some new seizure meds. They said that there are others without that… particular side effect that I could try. I just can’t drive until we know for sure that they’re gonna work for me.”
“Pendejo.” Diego leaned in for a quick kiss. “Don’t ever do that again, you hear me, soldier?”
“Yes sir,” Brody whispered as he deepened the kiss.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Afterthejudgespokewith the boys, everyone gathered back in the courtroom. Diego moved to his previous seat. The boys were allowed to enter the courtroom with Aaron and Audra and settled between them and Diego. They were glad to see him, that was clear, and each boy gave Diego a tight hug. “I missed you guys,” Diego whispered to them as they nervously chattered at him. “But we gotta listen to the judge, okay?”
Judge Mora seemed amused when they nodded and calmed down as best as they could in their seats before she spoke. “I had a good chat with Jace and Jonah. They’re smart young men who have had a rough couple of months. But I can see that they’re resilient and will handle anything that’s thrown at them—as long as they’ve got their family close by.”
Brody held his breath as she picked up her gavel. “The court finds in favor of the children’s uncle Broderick Hollis. He will have permanent custody and full guardianship of the minors until their mother is released and regains her parental rights.” She banged her gavel and stood to leave. But before she stepped off the bench, she glanced over at Diego. “Diego Duarte—is that correct?” she asked.
Diego stood immediately, clasping his hands. What had he done? Was his presence going to be a problem? “Yes, ma’am?”
She smiled again. “I thought that’s who you were. How is Diana doing? We were friends back when we were young.”
Diego felt all eyes turn to him, blood rushing to his face. “She’s good. She teaches kindergarten in Houston.”
Judge Mora laughed. “I’m glad to hear that. Please tell her Emily Mora said hello—and your parents as well. They always treated me like family when I visited your house. I still remember the taste of your mother’s empanadas. I’ve never had better.”
Diego remembered the little herd of girls that bounced in and out of their home, Diana’s close-knit friends. They drove him crazy with their giggles and loud chatter. Now he grinned at that memory. “I’ll relay those messages. Thank you.”
She smiled at all of them once more, then retired to her chambers.
“Well, that’s just great.” Aunt Kelly strode over toward them. Brody stood up and placed himself between her and the rest of them, as Diego instinctively pulled the boys to his side. “You’re going to ruin them, all of you.”
Brody turned and nodded at Audra and Aaron, who shuffled Jace and Jonah out of the courtroom without casting a glance back at Kelly. “You’re gonna stop talking to us like that.” Brody’s voice dropped dangerously low. “And I don’t guess we need to see each other after this.”
Kelly turned her gaze toward Diego. “And you—”
Brody started to speak, but Diego gently rested his hand on Diego’s arm. He shifted his gaze to Kelly, speaking with a newfound sense of conviction in his voice. “I used to be so afraid of you people. The way you hate so easily. The way you looked at me and mine like we were garbage. My family never did anything to hurt you, and you came after us. But I’m not scared anymore. You can’t hurt us.” Diego felt years of shame and grief drop off his shoulders. The last time they attacked him, Diego was a boy. But now he was a man, and he was going to help save Brody’s family. “You go live your life, and we’re gonna live ours.”
“Ugh,” Kelly spat out before she turned and stormed out of the room. Brody took his hand and squeezed hard as Diego steadied himself. He remembered all too well those people who had ruined his life and taken away everything he loved.
