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“What do you need?” My gaze bore straight into Violet’s, trying to pull the information I wanted out of her head so I could go kill someone. Déjà vu but I didn’t care. I’d charge hell with a water pistol and damned the consequences if this woman said to.

“I-I just w-wanted someone strong to be here to support my s-son.” Her voice was melodious and soft. Like an angel whispering. She was obviously nervous, that didn’t make her any less beautiful or courageous. “M-my husband can be…” she trailed off.

“Where do you need me, Ms. Violet?” Because parole or not, there was no way I was leaving this woman to deal with some asshole on her own.

“Come with us, Riot.” Lana took over, ushering me forward, urging all of us toward the courthouse. “All you need to do is what the judge tells you. This is her last hearing of the day, on purpose. I wanted as few people here as manageable, and she agreed.”

“Hoping to keep the spectacle to a minimum?”

“Yeah. I know Doug Harrington will have a whole legal team with him. It’s what he does.

Everything is about him. Everything is for show and maximum effect.

He’s the big man in the room. The last thing I want is to give him any more ways to intimidate this woman or her son.

They need someone just as intimidating on their side.

” She hurried us all through the doors and to the metal detectors.

All I had on me was my bike keys and the phone.

Once through security and inside the elevators she continued.

“Judge Whitmore will give you instructions, but I want you to stick by Caleb’s side like glue unless she backs you off.

That means you escort him to the witness stand, and you stay as close to him as Judge Whitmore will let you.

If she doesn’t tell you to sit, you stand where she stops you.

Keep an eye on as many of Harrington’s entourage as you can.

If you think there’s someone we need to watch out for in the future, I want you to tell me. ”

“He harassin’ them?” I needed more information, and I knew there was no way I was going to get it all before we got inside the courthouse.

“Subtly. He’s careful about what he does and who can see. Violet’s filing for divorce, which he doesn’t want to grant, along with full custody of their son with no unsupervised visits, which he’s not willing to give up.”

“She divorcin’ him because he beats her?

” I glanced at Violet. She winced and ducked her head.

Which wouldn’t do. Not at all. “Hey,” I said in a sharp command.

She winced again but glanced up at me. “This ain’t your fault, honey.

You’ve got nothing to duck your head about.

Not to me or anybody else.” I glanced at Caleb before turning my attention back to Lana. “What led up to this?”

“The kid saw.” She shrugged. “Caleb forced her hand by calling her out, telling her she had to leave Doug or he was going to kill the bastard himself.”

“I ain’t a kid,” Caleb grumbled.

“Caleb, honey, hush.” God, how could a woman’s voice be so beguiling? I wanted her to keep speaking just so I had the pleasure of hearing her. Violet could read the fucking phone book for all I cared.

I studied the kid closely. He met my gaze with a defiant, angry one of his own. And, God, this was hitting too fucking close to home.

“Are you tryin’ to kill me, Lana?” I asked her softly. I could see myself when I looked at that kid’s face. Hell, I saw that same look in the mirror most mornings.

She merely raised an eyebrow. “Maybe I’m just trying to keep history from repeating itself.” Lana reached over and released the elevator. It slid smoothly to a stop and opened. A couple people looked on curiously, but no one said anything.

I let her lead the way, thinking about what she’d told me. When we got to the correct courtroom and Lana reached for the door, I put my hand on hers to stop her. “When this is over, I want to read their file.”

“Not happening.” Her reply was instantaneous, no hesitation.

“You’ll give it to me so I can be prepared for what happens next, Lana.”

She gave me an arrogant lift of her chin. “Only if you’re all in.”

I opened the door and stepped back for her to precede me. “You fuckin’ know I am,” I whispered angrily. “It was guaranteed the moment you told me their story.”

She smirked as she entered the courtroom. “It was guaranteed before that.” One thing Lana was good at was reading people, so there was no doubt in my mind she’d taken in every minute detail of my reaction to Violet when she stepped out of that fucking car.

Lana led us down the center aisle and through the gallery. She had me and Caleb sit in the first row of seats behind her and Violet. The boy had a complex look of fear, anger, frustration, and worry on his face. It was an all too familiar feeling.

“Your dad hit you?” I asked the question softly, for the kid’s ears only.

“He tried to, but he was drunk. Has shit aim when he’s drunk.” Caleb didn’t look at me. His eyes were firmly on his mother.

“He hit your mom?”

Caleb was silent so long I wasn’t sure he was going to answer me. Then he nodded his head. “Yeah. He fuckin’ hit her.”

I knew I should probably correct the kid’s language, but fuck it. If the kid could testify against his father, he could fucking swear. “This the first time?”

He snorted. “First time I caught him. Mom lies and tells me she hit a door or fell down the stairs. She stopped trying to make up an elaborate explanation months ago.”

“Christ.” I scrubbed my hand over my mouth. I looked at Violet. I barely had a view of her profile, but I could see her trembling where she sat. Lana leaned in to speak with her several times. She laid a hand on Violet’s arm in reassurance. Violet didn’t say anything, only nodded occasionally.

“All rise,” the bailiff commanded. I stood with Caleb as a short, round woman with a stern expression entered from the side. “Court is now in session, Judge Evelyn Whitmore presiding.”

“Take your seats.” Judge Whitmore waved her hand absently as she situated herself in her chair and opened a folder.

When she looked up, she removed her glasses, an impatient look on her face.

“We seem to be missing half of the involved parties.” She raised an eyebrow and addressed the other lawyer in the room. “Counselor? Where’s your client.”

The guy adjusted his glasses while tapping frantically on his phone. “Uh, he should be here, uh, any minute now.” He didn’t stand or look up from his phone.

Judge Whitmore continued to look at the guy who was completely ignoring her. “Excuse me, Mr. Todd. Am I interrupting something important?” Any idiot could see she was heading past irritated to straight up pissed off. Everyone except for Mr. Todd, apparently.

“I’m letting Mr. Harrington know you’re here. He doesn’t like to be kept waiting and preferred to arrive after you did so he doesn’t have to be here a moment longer than he needs to be.”

“Bastard,” Caleb muttered. A bit too loudly.

“Can’t argue with that assessment, young man.” Judge Whitmore pursed her lips. “But I’m going to have to ask you not to use that language in my courtroom.” Poor lady looked like she’d swallowed a lemon.

“I’m sorry, Your Honor,” Caleb said softly. “My mom taught me better.”

Judge Whitmore looked slightly startled, but also studied Caleb closely, as if seeing more than just a disgruntled, angry preteen.

“Apology accepted, young man.” She took a stack of papers from her desk and straightened them before laying them back in front of her.

I knew the look of a person considering their words before speaking.

Not that this woman cared if she broke protocol or said something someone might take offense at.

No. I pegged her as a consummate professional in the face of un professionals.

She was determined to stay above their level, even if it meant she had to ignore stupidity on occasion.

“Mr. Todd?” She pointed to his phone. “Your client?”

“He hasn’t answered me yet, Your Honor.” He peered at the screen briefly. “Uh, as soon as he opens the message he’ll know to come to the courthouse.”

“I see.” Judge Whitmore didn’t look the least bit impressed.

“In that case, I’m going to assume Mr. Harrington is unwilling to be here for…

however long it takes him to get here, and we’ll get started now.

” She raised her hand and motioned to the bailiff.

“Will you please relieve Mr. Todd of his phone, Officer James. There are no phones permitted in court, as you know. Officer James will have someone check your phone with security and you may pick it up when you leave.”

“Your Honor. You can’t start until my client arrives. He has the right to face his accusers. Also, I have multiple important clients who need me at a moment’s notice. The phone stays with me.”

“Sure he has the right to face his accusers. Which is why he was called here today. If he chooses not to show up, that’s his choice.

If he chooses not to show up, that’s his choice.

Also, either the phones goes with Officer James, or you go to jail and this hearing is over.

Then I’ll let the young man go with whomever he chooses, which I likely will anyway given your client’s conduct regarding respect for the court by not showing up.

Because it’s inconvenient for such an important man to wait on something as trivial as emergency custody of his own child. ” She raised an eyebrow. “Your choice.”

When he sighed and handed over his phone, she continued. “Now. This hearing is for emergency custody of Mr. Caleb Harrington solely to his mother, Mrs. Violet Harrington, temporarily suspending the parental rights of Mr. Douglas Harrington. Is that about the gist of it?”

Lana stood, her shoulders back. “It is, Your Honor.”

“Very well. Now, for ease of communication, I’d like to use first names with the affected parties.

So,” she addressed Doug, “Mr. Douglas.” Then she turned to Violet and Caleb.

“Mrs. Violet. Mr. Caleb. Does everyone understand?” When everyone acknowledged her, she continued.

“Now where would you like to begin, Ms. Thompson?”

“Mr. Caleb is here today, willing to explain.” Lana placed a hand on Caleb’s shoulder.

“Your Honor, this is highly improper!”

“No, Mr. Todd. Your client might think he’s better than everyone else, but in my courtroom, he’s on the wrong side of the bench.” She turned, her sharp gaze focusing on Caleb. “Young man, for the record, are you Mr. Caleb Harrington?”

Caleb stood up straight. “Uh, yes, I am, Your Honor.” He added the last part as he cleared his throat, clearly nervous but trying so hard to do and say the right thing.

“Good. Who’s your friend?” She met and held my gaze.

Caleb turned, looked down at me, and swallowed. The kid was trying his best, but this was an unfamiliar situation. I could relate to where he was coming from. I’d literally been there.

Slowly, I stood. When I straightened, I put a light hand on Caleb’s shoulder.

“My name’s Quinn Devereaux, Your Honor. I’m here to support Mr. Caleb, so he knows he’s got a protector for him and his mother.

Someone to stand up for them.” I could see Violet’s shoulders slump as I spoke.

The woman was… beaten down. She was expecting to lose this hearing and have her world shattered.

“That’s great, Judge Whitmore.” Mr. Todd waved a hand toward me. “Have a thug here to intimidate my client? On behalf of Mr. Harrington, I demand you make this guy leave immediately.”

“Oh, Mr. Todd,” Judge Whitmore shook her head in a way that said she was sorry for the guy when she really wasn’t.

“You’ve just earned contempt charges. The fine won’t be light and there will be no getting out of paying.

” The guy opened his mouth, probably to protest or some shit but Judge Whitmore continued.

“The next offense for you opening your big mouth and not following my rules, Mr. Todd, will be a night in jail. You might manage to get yourself out on bail before morning, but I’m willing to bet you’d love to avoid those few hours you’d be in a holding cell -- with several other men awaiting their arraignment.

” Then she addressed me. “Mr. Devereaux, I happen to know your current circumstances.” She didn’t elaborate.

“I’m inclined to believe you’re not here to cause trouble.

” She raised an eyebrow like she was an overly patient teacher waiting for the correct answer from a slightly naughty first grader. I didn’t take offense.

“No plans on starting trouble, Your Honor.” I tried to smile, but not very hard.

This wasn’t my courtroom or my problem in any way, and I was already pissed as fuck at this Doug Harrington prick.

“I’m here to support Mr. Caleb and his mother.

Nothing more.” I paused, glancing over at the little weasel, Todd.

“Though, I won’t lie and say I won’t be thinkin ’ about causin’ trouble.

” I let my Southern accent out in a rolling drawl as full of sarcasm as it was geniality. “Just a bit.”

“A bit of trouble I can handle, young man. Just mind your manners and I think we’ll all be fine.”

Even though my anger still smoldered, I felt my lips twitch. I liked this judge. “Yes, Your Honor.”