uced a card, tossing it onto the battered table. "Two hundred tho

e driver's downstairs waiting for you." Every word carr

stood rooted

lunged for the boy's arm. "Nothing in this plac

er, each one running into the other's arms

ring high-stakes business deals. Not during sleepless n

a brief, humorless laugh, but the chill in his eyes gave Allison pause. "And what's all this supposed t

everything he needed. She was

s own son. The thought of a child being forced to leave th

leaded, her words trembling, "Let me hold him

felt meaningless now. All those days and nights, the milestones, the scraped k

terrified that one day, someone might see a

n only to Tricia, her closest friend. Allison

f letting him go s

o the man's voice. "

said nothing, her arms loc

into his voice. "Maybe you'd rather s

t once. This so-called "fath

is mother's hip, Lucas still stepped in front of her, arms thrown wide, trying to sh

s level, maybe hoping to win him over. "Son, I

by keeping him? Can you promise a better future, a better school, better oppo

remembered meeting Kyle's niece-a little girl wh

his afternoons playing outdoors. She had show

eak, Allison whis

an's lips. "That's what I expe

every word, and it was clear-his ow

e boys in the neighborhood

ng desperately to Allison's leg. "Mom! Please,

listen to me. Go with your dad for now, okay? I promise I'll visit. Didn't you want

cried out, "No... I want to stay! I wa

re thin as the crying dragged on. He force

for Lucas to put t

shed across the room and faced the man. "Don't take me

em. Lucas had his own collection of coins and crumpled bills hidde

if indulging a child's wild hope.

with hope. Could it r

ld order that changed ever

word, he heade

burly figures swept in, one scooping Lucas up and hauling him over his shoulder, p

but nothing prepared her for the moment

de, and lifted Allison as if she weigh

the back seat of a waiting car. The door slammed behind

k, drawn by the noise and the sight of Allison and Lucas cryin

a cigarette dangle from his lips. One of his

ced over at the onlookers with a lazy, mocking grin. "What's the

he slid into the car himself, and

es, piecing together their

oking, and clearly the reason she could wea

found the man waiting for her, legs crossed, coffee i

eighing the idea of going back to Streley. Never i

darted around, searching for any sign of Lucas. Red

the man motioned cooll

taught him when to push-right when

ison stood her ground,

t Acme Inc. Divorced four years ago and settled in Blirson soon

y, not even three months old. Told everyone he was your child from your firs

ce wen

she understood just how little

on't drag this into court. But don't fool yourself. He was stolen by his nanny, who spo

res about you. I don't want to shock my son more than necessary. Help him ad

smile. "Or, if you'd rather vanish right now, that work