Page 107 of Redeeming Melodies

Family. The word hit different now. Because that's what Jake had become. What we were building. Something real against Vanessa's perfect facade.

"What do you need from me?" Jake asked, solid and sure even through digital static.

"Just you." The truth came easy. "In court. By my side. Let them see what actually matters."

"Always."

Unmuted the TV just in time to catch Vanessa's final performance.

"I'll always love Elliot." Her voice broke perfectly. "But right now, I have to protect our son. From all of this."

"Turn it off." Couldn't watch anymore. Couldn't see her twist everything into weapons.

"We do this right." Sarah's voice went hard. "One interview. Your truth. Nothing more."

"And then?"

"And then we let the court see who's really putting Tommy first." Cassidy gathered her papers. "The parent using him for publicity, or the one fighting to give him a real life."

The city lights seemed dimmer now, less important. Because whatever Vanessa threw at us, however she tried to spin this, we had something she didn't.

Sarah's phone hit the table like a starting gun. "Plan B. Now." Her fingers flew across the screen, already three steps ahead like always. "Mike needs to know first. Your crew's about to get swarmed."

I called Delaney on speaker, his gruff voice filling the hotel room. "Already seen it, kid. Got reporters sniffing around the garage."

"Tell them nothing." Sarah cut in, all business. "Not a word about Elliot's personal life, his move, nothing. Redirect everything to his racing record."

"Done." Mike's certainty steadied something in my chest. "Boys know the drill. Family protects family."

Family. The word hit different now. Because yeah, my crew was family. Had been through a hundred races. But so was Jake. So was Tommy. So were all the people Vanessa was trying to paint as part of my "breakdown."

"The Anderson situation" Sarah started, but Mike cut her off.

"Self-defense when some asshole got aggressive. That's all anyone needs to know."

Cassidy watched me while they talked strategy, her eyes too knowing. Waited until Sarah stepped out to make more calls before moving closer.

"You're not okay." Not a question. "Talk to me, Elliot."

"What if she wins?" The words came raw, unplanned. "What if the court sees this interview and decides she's right? That I'm too unstable, too"

"Stop." Her hand landed warm on my shoulder. "Look at me. Really look."

Met her eyes, found steel there. Not the cold kind Vanessa wielded, but something stronger. Something real.

"You're fighting for your son." Simple words carrying weight. "Not for cameras, not for image. For Tommy. That matters more than any performance Vanessa can give."

"But"

"No buts. You've got people in your corner. Real people, not paid PR teams. Jake, your crew, this whole stupid town that's adopted you." Her smile went soft. "That's what the court will see. Someone building a life, not having a breakdown."

My phone buzzed - Jake checking in. Always knowing somehow when I needed him.

"You good?" His voice carried worry even through speaker.

"Getting there." Meant it more than I expected. "Sarah's mobilizing the troops."

"Good." A pause, heavy with everything we couldn't say. "Tommy called. Asked about you."

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