Page 11 of Vengeful Reign

“It’s okay, John. I’m Nora.” I point to myself. He runs to a corner and ducks down, banging his head against the wall. Damn it. I approach slowly so he doesn’t hurt himself. The floors are carpeted just in case kids get a little out of control. I’d rather his meltdown happen there than against the wall, so I gingerly ease him to the floor as he fights me. I’m sure I’ll have scratches and cuts, but these moments come with the job sometimes.

“It’s okay, John. I promise I’m not going to hurt you.” My voice remains calm and low. “No one is going to hurt you.”

“Maybe I should call the cops.”

“No,” I shout, regretting it instantly. John screams.

“Sorry, sorry.” I look at Rebecca. “She’s a friend and asked me to look after him. Now, can you take out those papers and hand them to me?”

She does and gasps. “Nora, you’ve just become a mother.”

“What?”

“These documents are court papers naming you, Nora Harrison, the legal guardian of John Matthew Ingram, age five.” I guffaw in pure shock, which for some odd reason makes John snuggle into me. Then I feel something rolling over my body. I tip my head and see John is using my torso like a racetrack for his car. His vehicle has used my boobs as hills before going down again.

“At least he’s calmed down.”

“I guess so.” When she asked me, she didn’t plan on taking no for an answer.

“There’s a list of his favorite meals in here, and he has no food or medical allergies. He isn’t on any medications at present.”

“That’s very good to know. I don’t want to try to take him out of the room yet. Can you have lunch brought in to us, so I can feed him and see if maybe a little more bonding can happen?”

“Absolutely.”

****

As promised, a car seat is delivered to the office via a courier before the school day is over. Rebecca generously helps me install it while John allows me to buckle him in without a meltdown, which I call a major win. Although, the car ride to my house is a nightmare because he cries halfway there, trying to get out. Thankfully, he isn’t able to get out of the harness.

My nerves are shot by the time we pull into my driveway. I press my head to the steering wheel, wanting to cry, but I hold myself together. An overwhelming sense of defeat fighting to take over me is unmistakable, but I’ve been there before—I didn’t let it then, and I wouldn’t let it now.

Just as I’m about to lift my head, someone pounds on my car window, startling me. With a gasp, I jump back to see Julia.

“Hurry. You shouldn’t be out here just taking your time with him in the open. It’s dangerous,” she gasps. She goes around to the back passenger door, and I unlock it. Quickly she frees John from his seat, and he clings to her. “Let’s go inside.”

“Okay, okay. Did they follow you here?”

“So far they haven’t, but I don’t want them to get any ideas. Your school surveillance cameras were down today for maintenance, and that’s why I used today to drop John off. I’mcompletely serious about his safety, Nora. I would give my life for him.”

“I understand.” I truly do, now more than ever. She is scared, and I can see it. As I reach for my front door, it’s already unlocked. “Oh, no. Someone—”

“It was me. Go in.” We enter my home, and immediately, it’s as if I walked into someone else’s home. The place isn’t the same way I left it this morning, just like my life. Everything has been rearranged.

“Sorry, but I needed to make sure John has a secure place to live. It needed to be redecorated and safe. Your office is now here. Your desk has locks now so he can’t get inside, and the keys are on the shelf.” I am as equally impressed as I am pissed.

“How did you…?”

“I had a little bit of help.” There is so much more to her, and it scares me. “I know you have a million questions and fears, but it’s for the best that you leave it all alone. Trust me when I say that the less you know, the better. John needs a good home and a loving mother to care for him. As much as I’d love to stay, the longer I’m here, the more likely he’ll be in danger.” She looks nervously around.

“But…”

“Don’t worry. I’ve erased all ties to my transfer of him. It looks like I was never involved in the guardianship, and for good reason. These people are evil to want to kill a five-year-old harmless child.”

“Why are you doing this now, though?”

“I’m dying. I have advanced ALS. I’m not going to last long, and I can’t take care of John, especially the way he needs tobe. He needs someone to treasure and love him like a real family would.”

I know that family means nothing, and they’d betray you just for a power alliance. After all, mine planned an arranged marriage with an Irish mob family. They wanted me to marry a man I didn’t know who was thirteen years older than me, and Julia was the only one to save me from it.

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