Page 363 of Wicked Brutal

“Yes.”

“Safer?”

“Yes.”

“Possible?”

I shake my head. “No. They don’t make Tobias possible.” My voice steadies. “They make our life better. Safer. They give us a home full of people who love us.”

I look back at Walter and Cassandra. “But they aren’t why I’m asking for my brother.”

“Why are you?”

“Because he’s mine.” I shake my head at once. “Not the way my father means it.” My chest hurts. “He’s my brother. And apparently Mom knew a long time ago what I didn’t.”

“What was that?”

“That I was already raising him.”

The judge is quiet. Then he nods. “You may sit.”

I do. My legs barely work.

He spends several minutes going back through everything. Nobody speaks. Finally he sets Mom’s will on top of the stack. “This court’s obligation is the best interest of Tobias O’Toole.”

I grip Arthur’s hand.

“The evidence establishes that Alison O’Toole has occupied a substantial and continuous caregiving role throughout Tobias’s life. That finding rests on more than one document or one witness. It is supported by medical providers. Educators. Adults who have known both children since birth.”

My heart pounds.

“It is supported by an adult who knew them only briefly and independently observed the same thing. By Jane O’Toole’s repeated designation of Alison across Tobias’s records. And by a testamentary document executed in 2019, years before this dispute, in which Jane sought to keep her children together and place Tobias in Alison’s care upon her reaching adulthood.”

I can’t breathe.

“The court has also considered Roman O’Toole’s objection. Mr. O’Toole is incarcerated, awaiting prosecution for the death of Tobias’s mother, alongside serious federal proceedings. The court has before it substantial evidence of violence and coercive control in the O’Toole household. Whatever the ultimate disposition of the criminal matters, I find no basis on which preserving Mr. O’Toole’s ability to direct Tobias’s placement serves this child’s best interests.”

My lungs unlock.

“Alison O’Toole is young. She will need help.” I nod through my tears. “But needing help does not make her unsuitable.” Cassandra sobs. “And this court will not treat a strong support system as evidence against the person receiving it.”

Oh God.

He looks down. “Full legal and physical custody of Tobias O’Toole is awarded to Alison O’Toole.”

I stop. Everything stops. Arthur’s hand tightens around mine.

“Roman O’Toole will have no custodial authority and no authority to direct Tobias’s residence or remove him from Alison’s care. Any contact will remain prohibited absent further order of this court.”

The judge signs something. The pen scratches across paper. That’s the sound that does it — not the ruling, not my name. The pen. Because it’s real. It’s on paper. Roman can’t take him. Victor can’t take me and leave him behind. Nobody gets to decide my brother belongs somewhere else.

The judge sets the pen down. “Court is adjourned.”

I don’t move. Arthur does. He turns to me, his eyes wet. “Ally.” I look at him. He smiles. “You got him.”

My face crumples. “I got him?”

“You got him.”