Page 113 of Desperate Games

That one’s a surprise.

“I see we have a problem to take care of,” Andres says.

“I do.”

“Nah, cuz. We do,” Junior corrects me with a wicked grin.

Andres nods. His voice is even, but the steel underneath it’s impossible to miss, “Why don’t you start from the beginning?”

So I do.

I lay out everything.

Callie’s birth. Renee’s death. Julio’s side the way he spewed in court.

The lies, the fake rehab certificates, the playacting.

My lawyer adds his piece about what to expect from the upcoming hearings, the potential for temporary visitation, and how the judge is giving Julio the benefit of the doubt—at least for now.

“He’s already filed for visitation on Christmas Day,” My lawyer adds, and I feel my protective instincts going insane.

The thought of that fucker being allowed anywhere near Callie? Unthinkable.

He goes on about the legalities and counter arguments, until finally, my lawyer and theirs step out.

Then, the tone in the room shifts.

Now it’s just family.

And that means the gloves come off.

“Julio Castillo has ties to a South American drug cartel,” Nico Fury says flatly. “They’re renowned for the brutal deaths of their enemies and any cops who go after them.”

Angel exhales a plume of smoke he never bothers to light.

“We’ve kept their products out of Jersey, but it’s a growing problem.”

“See,” Luc Batiste adds, the steel in his voice sharpening the words like blades, “these motherfuckers don’t care that their poison is killing people. They just want customers. Bodies are cheap to them. Julio thinks he has clout, but he’s sloppy. And he makes too much noise.”

“He won’t be missed then,” Adrik points out.

“In fact, I’d say his sudden disappearance might be appreciated,” Connor adds.

Every word they say is like another nail hammered into Julio’s coffin.

I sit there, silent, listening.

Absorbing.

Because this isn’t just about a custody hearing anymore.

This is about a battle Julio has no idea he started.

He thinks he’s clever, trying to play daddy now, trying to crawl back into relevance by waving his blood ties around—but I’m no fucking fool.

He’s going to have an ask. Money is what I’m guessing. And I’d gladly give him everything I have to walk away. To leave my family alone.

But guys like that don’t know how to quit while they’re ahead. So no, there won’t be any payoff for Julio.