Becca.
I wore a gray pencil skirt and a black blouse, sitting next to Jas 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 think of depictions of Death.
I swallowed, feeling the blood drain from my face. Jas 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 and paternal grandparents. We have several witnesses who will attest to Miss Woods’s unfitness as a mother and... well... I don’t even know where to begin with Mr. Valentino.”
“The grandfather?” Judge Hopper mumbled again.
Chad’s attorney nodded. “The grandfather who just happens to be Don of the Valentino Family, a Mafia elent based out of Italy.”
Judge Hopper blinked. “You have proof of this?”
“We do, your honor,” Chad’s attorney continued.
Ms. Loveless stood. “I just want to make it known, your honor, that my client, Jas Valetino, will be pleading the Fifth on any and all insinuations that he might be part of the Mafia.”
“Noted,” Judge Hopper said. “And you also have several witnesses, I can see on this list here.”
“Yes, your honor,” Chad’s lawyer replied. “All ready and willing to testify to the appalling nature of Ms. Woods’s character.”
“Ms. Loveless, I notice you did not submit a witness list.” Judge Hopper gave a rattling cough.
“We don’t have any to call at this ti, your honor,” Ms. Loveless responded.
Judge Hopper narrowed his eyes at our table. “Well, this could be very short.”
I felt sick to my stomach. Jas squeezed my hand hard.
“Your honor, I would ask that you not hold any prejudice...” Ms. Loveless began.
Judge Hopper scowled at her. “You are accusing of harboring prejudice already, Ms. Loveless?”
Ms. Loveless swallowed, but I could see her fingers digging into the wood of the table. She was pissed. “Of course not, your honor.”
“Good. I will hear preliminary argunts from the plaintiff,” Judge Hopper said.
Chad’s attorney smiled smugly at Ms. Loveless, and her nails just dug deeper. “Thank you, your honor. Now, as we all know, Taliana Valentino made it clear in her final wishes that she wanted Rebecca Woods to raise Alessandro Valentino. That fact is not in question. What is in question is whether or not she made the correct, inford choice.”
A clack of papers being hit on the tabletop interrupted Chad’s attorney’s speech, but I saw soon it was deliberate. The attorney took the papers from his second and held them out for all to see. “We have no less than thirteen affidavits here attesting to Rebecca Woods’s rcurial and violent nature.”
“I’ve read them,” Judge Hopper said. “I must say they are rather... damning.”
“Your honor,” Ms. Loveless protested again.
Judge Hopper frowned at her. “Would you like to hold you in contempt?”
“I would like you to recuse yourself. You are obviously already prejudiced against my clients,” Ms. Loveless sniffed.
“Your objection is noted, but I will not be recusing myself,” Judge Hopper said.
“I want that objection noted on the record,” Ms. Loveless seethed.
Judge Hopper raised an eyebrow. “Of course.”
“Good.” Ms. Loveless sat down again.
“You can continue, Bruce.” Judge Hopper smiled kindly at Chad’s attorney.
“Thank you, your honor.” Bruce oozed charm. “As you can see from these affidavits, Rebecca Woods is hardly a fit person to raise Alessandro Valentino. All of these people are prepared to co and testify in open court if you would like to hear from them yourself.”
“That won’t be necessary, Bruce,” Judge Hopper said, waving a hand. “We don’t need to waste the court’s ti.”
“Your honor! I would like the opportunity to cross-examine these witnesses!” Ms. Loveless gaped.
“Noted. I’ll take your request under advisent.” Judge Hopper yawned. “I am interested in this witness, however. The child’s maternal grandmother?”
“Allison Valentino has co forward of her own free will, your honor, in order to act in the best interests of her innocent little grandchild,” Bruce simpered.
Ms. Loveless looked as though she wanted to kill Bruce. As did Jas. Apparently, if I wanted to strangle him, there was already a line.
“Is there a particular reason Judge Hopper is being such a d*ck?” Jas asked Ms. Loveless in a low tone.
“Judge Hopper and Bruce Kensington II are old golf buddies. You’re looking at Bruce Kensington III,” Ms. Loveless grumbled.
“And there’s nothing we can do about this,” Jas responded.
Ms. Loveless shook her head. “Not really. The Kensingtons play golf with every mber of the legal profession I know.”
“Great,” Jas sighed.
I wanted to throw up.
“... Call Allison Valentino to the stand,” the bailiff said, making realize I’d missed a whole paragraph of Bruce Kensington III’s posturing.
Allison ca in wearing a Versace dress and Christian Louboutin heels. Her sowhat subtle ruby jewelry appeared to be authentic.
“My, my, look who’s co up in the world,” Jas snorted.
Allison screwed up her face in sothing resembling fear and pointed at Jas. “This man is harassing .”
“I’m not—!” Jas argued.
“Mr. Valentino. This is a court of law. Please try not to be disruptive,” Judge Hopper ordered.
Jas seed ready to reel back and defend himself so more, but both Ms. Loveless and I put a hand on his arms.
Grinding his teeth, Jas sat back down.
Judge Hopper’s eyes twinkled with interest as Miss Sex-On-Heels got herself into the witness stand.
“Thank you for joining us today, Ms. Valentino, despite your obvious discomfort with your ex-husband.” Kensington really turned on the sympathy.
Jas’s eye ticked.
“We had a very tumultuous marriage. I an, I’m sure you can just imagine, given the types he fraternized with. He’s a very violent man,” Allison replied, her voice trembling.
“Oh, co on,” Jas yelled.
Ms. Loveless squeezed her eyes shut. “Jas, I’m going to have to ask you to calm down.”
“Mr. Valentino, one more outburst like that from you, and I will hold you in contempt!” Judge Hopper said.
“Your honor, it’s slander, and what’s more, it’s not true,” Jas argued, even while Ms. Loveless and I were hanging onto his wrists.
Judge Hopper went almost purple. “Mr. Valentino, your attorney will have an opportunity to cross-examine the witness. For now, please, SHUT UP.”
Jas looked about ready to leap over the table and throttle Judge Hopper, but Ms. Loveless and I finally managed to get him back into his seat.
“Good. Now, before this interruption, Bruce, you were going to question the witness?” Judge Hopper said.
“Yes, your honor.” Kensington turned to Allison. “You have already said, before this court, that your exhusband is a violent man who fraternizes with unsavory types. Can you expand on that?”
“He was involved with the mafia, and the mob, and God only knows who else,” Allison sniffled. “He kept a gun under his desk. I was always afraid to visit him at the office.”
“Has he ever threatened you personally?” Kensington asked.
“All the ti,” Allison hiccuped. “He threatened all the ti. If I hadn’t been in prison, thanks to him, all this ti, I’d probably be dead by now.”
Jas growled deep in his throat, but I dug my nails into the back of his hand to remind him to stay silent.
“And you are sure your exhusband was or is involved in the mafia?” Kensington went on.
Allison nodded vigorously. “He was definitely in the mafia while we were married. I an, how could he not be? He might not have been active, but his whole family was mafia. I knew that even before I married him. I’ve even heard he’s Don of the Valentino Family now.”
“Objection. Speculation,” Ms. Loveless barked.
“Sustained. Ms. Valentino, just stick to the facts you’re sure of,” Judge Hopper coached.
Allison batted her eyelashes at him. “Of course, your honor. I apologize.”
Judge Hopper blushed a little.
“Ms. Valentino, getting off the subject of your exhusband for a mont, what are your impressions of Ms. Woods?” Kensington asked.
Allison scowled at . That, at least, was sincere. “She was a terrible friend to my daughter. She was always criticizing the way Tally lived her life, and when Tally tried to set her up with a nice boy, she beat him up! That’s a fact, your honor. I heard it from Tally herself.” She dabbed her eyes. “It’s just so awful Tally isn’t here to tell it herself.”
“Your honor...” Ms. Loveless said.
Judge Hopper held up a hand. “I’ll allow it.”
“Tally tried to include her in activities with her friends, but Becca was always so antisocial. It boggles my mind that she chose Becca to adopt Alessandro. I can only guess my husband put her up to it. You see, I was unable to support her when she got pregnant, and I’m sure Jas instilled so very unreasonable rules if he was going to take care of her...” Allison rattled on.
“Your honor, more speculation,” Ms. Loveless objected.
Allison choked on a sob. “Well, who’s going to say it if my baby’s not here to tell it? Maybe it’s not a fact I know, but I do know we were so close, and then suddenly we weren’t. I don’t have any other explanation than that Jas forbade her to see .”
“Speculation—” Ms. Loveless said again.
“Sustained,” Judge Hopper responded. “I’m sorry, Ms. Valentino. I know it must be heartrending to speak about your daughter, but you must stick to the facts.”
“Well, here are the facts. My daughter moved in with her father, and then wouldn’t see anymore,” Allison sobbed, covering her face with her hands. “We were two peas in a pod, and then she wouldn’t even take my calls...”
Kensington made a big show of handing Allison a handkerchief from his inner suit pocket.
Allison dabbed her eyes with it. “Nothing prepares you for losing a child. Nothing.”
“Bruce, do you have any further questions?” Judge Hopper asked.
“No, not of this witness, and not at this ti, your honor,” Kensington said, a sad lilt in his tone.
Judge Hopper nodded. “Well then, it’s getting late. We will adjourn for the weekend.”
We all stood for Judge Hopper’s exit. I looked at Ms. Loveless, who had the edge of the table in a death grip.
“We’re in trouble, aren’t we?” I whispered.
“Yes,” Ms. Loveless replied. “We’re in a lot of trouble.”
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