Chapter 14 - a poisoned glass
The air inside the great room grew so thick Savannah could hear the dull hum of the refrigerator forty feet away.
Dr. Aris, the child advocate, stepped around the federal marshal. Her expression was devoid of warmth, her eyes sharp and assessing as she took in the lavish surroundings, the unfinished pancakes, and Savannah sitting on the floor with her arms wrapped protectively around Leo.
"Mr. Vance," Dr. Aris said, her voice thin and nasal. "We are executing an ex parte order issued by Judge Holloway. A petition was filed early this morning alleging that Leo has been subjected to psychological duress by an unauthorized individual residing on these premises."
Her gaze shifted directly to Savannah, cold and calculating. "Specifically, an individual with a history of family felony convictions and no certified credentials in pediatric behavioral trauma."
Dominic stepped directly into her field of view, cutting off her line of sight to Savannah. His presence was overwhelming, a towering wall of sheer defiance.
"My son has spent eighteen months under the care of three different board-certified child psychiatrists," Dominic said, his voice deceptively quiet. "All three of them told me he would likely never speak again. None of them could get him to leave his bedroom without sedation. Yet you stand in my living room, citing an order bought and paid for by a woman who hasn't laid eyes on her son in four hundred days."
"The legal guardianship framework is not for you to decide unilaterally, Mr. Vance," Marshal Miller replied, his hand resting casually near his holster. "We have an order to remove the minor for an independent psychiatric evaluation at Mount Sinai, pending a full jurisdictional hearing tomorrow morning."
"You aren't taking him anywhere," Savannah’s voice rang out, clear and steady.
She rose from the floor, standing tall beside Dominic. She didn't look like a woman who had spent years cleaning up other people's messes; she stood with her chin high, her hands steady, the sapphire ring catching the midday light.
Dr. Aris raised an eyebrow. "Miss Miller, I presume? I suggest you remain quiet. You have no legal standing here. In fact, if you interfere with the execution of a federal warrant, you will be taken into custody immediately."
Leo scrambled to his feet behind Savannah. He grabbed the fabric of her cardigan with both hands, burying his face against her side.
"No," Leo cried out.
The room went dead silent.
Marshal Miller blinked, his eyes darting to the boy. The two uniformed officers exchanged a glance. Everyone in the city knew the story of the Vance heir—the tragic boy who had witnessed his nanny's death, who had been rendered utterly mute by severe post-traumatic shock.
"What did the child say?" Dr. Aris asked, her pencil poised over her clipboard, her clinical detachment momentarily cracked.
"No," Leo said again, louder this time. He stepped out from behind Savannah, his small face flushed with anger, his eyes locked onto Dr. Aris. "Go away. She’s my mama."
Dr. Aris swallowed hard, clearly unprepared for the boy to speak, let alone deliver such a definitive statement. She adjusted her glasses, trying to regain her composure. "Leo... sweetie. I’m Dr. Aris. We just want to make sure you're safe. We want to take you to a nice doctor who can—"
"I am safe," Leo shouted, his voice cracking with emotion. "I hate you! Go away!"
"That's enough," Dominic commanded, stepping forward. "You heard him. You claim to represent child welfare. My son has spoken more words in the last five minutes than he spoke in the last two years under your state-approved experts. If you attempt to drag him out of this apartment by force, Marshal, you will be committing an act of physical assault against a traumatized child on camera."
Dominic pointed toward the subtle security lenses recessed into the ceiling corners. "Every second of this intrusion is broadcasting live to my legal team and being mirrored onto secure cloud servers. Try taking him. Let the world see federal marshals pry a seven-year-old from his home while he begs you to leave."
Marshal Miller’s jaw worked silently. He looked at Dr. Aris, then at the two NYPD officers, who clearly wanted nothing to do with this assignment.
"Miller," one of the NYPD officers muttered under his breath. "This isn't what the brief said. The brief said the kid was non-verbal and being held against family wishes. He’s clearly speaking, and he’s clearly bonded."
Before Miller could reply, Marcus walked back into the room, holding his phone out on speaker.
"Marshal Miller," a booming, authoritative voice echoed from the device.
Miller stiffened. "Judge Thornton?"
"Miller, you are currently executing an order that violates three separate interstate jurisdictional covenants," the voice of Senior District Judge Thornton barked over the speaker. "I have just signed an emergency stay on Holloway’s writ. Delaware has zero standing in the First District of New York until a jurisdictional conference is held. If you don't remove yourself and Dr. Aris from Dominic Vance’s residence within sixty seconds, I will hold you personally in contempt of federal court."
Miller took a deep breath, his face tightening. He looked at Dominic, then gave a sharp nod.
"We’re standing down," Miller said. He looked at Dr. Aris. "Doctor, pack your files. We’re leaving."
Dr. Aris looked furious, her lips pinched into a thin, white line. "This isn't over, Mr. Vance. A formal custody hearing is scheduled for tomorrow at nine o'clock. Senator Sterling’s legal team will dismantle this little fairy tale you've manufactured."
"Tell Sterling to bring everything he has," Dominic replied, his voice dropping into a register that made the hair on Savannah’s arms stand up. "Because when I’m done with him in that courtroom tomorrow, he won't have a political career left to finance."
Without another word, the four officials turned and filed back into the elevator. The doors slid shut, sealing the penthouse once more.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Leo collapsed back against Savannah, his small body trembling violently as the adrenaline left him. Savannah fell to her knees, pulling him into her lap, rocking him back and forth.
"You were so brave, Leo," she whispered into his hair, tears finally spilling over her eyelashes. "You were so, so brave."
Dominic knelt beside them, his large arms encircling both of them. But as he held them, Savannah saw his eyes. They weren't relieved. They were dark, dangerous, and calculating.
"Marcus," Dominic said, not looking up.
"Yes, sir?"
"Victoria didn't get that Delaware filing together in four hours," Dominic whispered. "Someone inside our circle leaked Savannah’s background check and Leo’s medical updates before we even woke up this morning."
May you like
Marcus froze. "Dominic... only three people had access to those files."
"Then find out which one of them took the money," Dominic said, his voice dropping into pure ice. "And make sure they never work in this country again."
