None of it’s true.
I can’t even remember the last time it was anything other than me, alone, and my hand.
But Livy’s teacher’s corruption is the only reason I get to see her at all.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have seen her in ages. Sneaking around and hiding Livy isn’t right either—I know that. But I can’t sleep if I haven’t seen her, and my ex refuses every call. She only wants my money. I’ve been fighting alone for a year. My old lawyer sucked and lost everything, which is why I’m appealing now and just hoping Jenna fixes it, so I get my daughter back.
Most nights I drive past my ex’s house, sit like a stalker, and wait for her to go out. If she does, I break in with a duplicate key. Yes, illegal again—but she leaves Livyalone,asleep, while she parties. My daughter wakes up crying. So, I document everything, even though I can’t exactly explain the breaks-ins. I’ve called the cops, but my ex is sleeping with a high-ranking officer who warns her whenever he hears radio traffic. Once they arrive, she sits perfectly staged at home, pretending to be the perfect mommy and greets the cops with that perfect fake smile. Pretty privilege.
All that was almost manageable until yesterday.
I stalked my ex,again,and the bitch left,again.
Livy hurt herself because she wanted to make herself dinner. She cried so hard she threw up. When I saw her bloody arm, I snapped, packed her clothes and toys—and we left.
I couldn’t just go back to my own apartment, so I went to Jay’s, another one of my best friends. If I’d gone to Riley, my ex would’ve found me. Jay just moved and hasn’t been in New York since his injury, so she wouldn’t think to look there. I haven’t told Jenna any of this, and I’m pretty sure she’s about to kill me now—because at this very second, my fiery little lawyer is storming straight toward me.
I’m in the foyer of the Withmore well-known midtown hotel owned by Riley’s father, celebrating his sister Rosalie’sNutcrackerwith family and friends. It should be a good day, butthe moment I see Jenna, I know I’m a dead man. I clutch my daughter and watch the drama unfold…
“Is there something we can assist you with?” Jay asks Jenna from a few feet away.
We’re all tall guys. Jay stands out a bit with his maroon curls tied up in a man bun and his usual three-day stubble.
Jenna whips around. “I’m looking for Colton King. I’m his lawyer.”
Rosie, Riley’s sister, relaxes slightly. She has that tall, lean ballet build. You can tell from a distance she’s a dancer. The way she carries her long neck, the way her black hair is always pulled into a tight bun. So, bun-wise, Jay and her are a perfect match.
“Can I ask what it’s about?” Rosie says.
Jenna gives them a once-over. “I’m Jenna, his lawyer. We have urgent matters.”
Rosie starts to reply, “Oh, of course he’s—” but Jenna spots me and walks over.
Shit. I don’t often get scared of people under six foot, but that stare makes me tremble.
White outfit, red shoes, red lips—always flawless. My eyes follow her until she stops just mere inches across from me.
“Are you insane?” she simply asks.
I notice Jay and Rosie walking up, and Riley beside me stiffens at my reaction. He looks just like his sister. Tall, whiskey eyes and raven black hair. He still looks like an emo kid collided with a way too muscular sports jock—long black strands of hair falling into his face, a mischievous grin plastered across his troublemaker features.
“You kidnapped your own daughter? Do you know how much more complicated your case is now? I can’t believe you,” Jenna snaps.
I have nothing to say. Riley laughs and pats me on the shoulder. “Dude, you’re frozen solid. Chill. Riley Huntington. Nice to meet you.”
He offers Jenna a handshake and she nods curtly, then turns back to me with her “happy” expression. “Colton. We need to leave. We have to deal with this. You need to return her?—”
“No. Over my dead body. I’m not giving her back.”
“No, I don’t want to live with Mom,” Livy says.
Her words land and I watch something in Jenna’s face break open—just for a second—before she pulls it shut again. She’s got a soft spot for that kid. I should let Livy handle her.
“Okay,” she says, softer now. “Then we must file for emergency relief immediately. You can’t hide her. Youmustmove back to your registered addresstoday. I’ll file the urgent motion, but we need to start now—in my office.”
“I—”
“Do I need to define the adverb now for you?”
