Page 52 of Lethal Weakness

“It means that it is an official document. If you don’t comply, they could arrest you.”

“What?” I feel her knees buckle, and my grip on her is the only thing that keeps her standing.

“We have orders to bring the child to the Scott residence.”

“No, she isn’t going with you.”

“Ma’am–” He starts, but I cut him off.

“She will drive her there herself. You can follow to ensure she complies.” Linden’s shocked whimper kills me. “It’s only for two hours. They have to produce her at the end of the visit, or they will be arrested.”

“Clearly they don’t follow the same laws as everyone else!” She argues with a tremble in her voice that means she’s near hysterics.

“I will not let them take her from you,” I say firmly but quietly, just to her. “We will have her back in two hours. I promise.”

She searches my eyes, demanding to see the truth, and I know she does. She’s caught me in my lies enough that she knows I’m not lying about this.

“I promise,” I whisper again for good measure.

She wipes the moisture from her cheeks and clears her throat. “Avery,” she says hoarsely. “I’m going to take you to your grandma and grandpas now. Okay?”

“I don’t wanna go.”

“I know mommy seems sad, but it’s okay. You’ll have fun.”

Her little mouth is stuck in a firm frown when she looks at me. “You come wiff me, Mr. Jack?”

“I can’t, baby. But I’ll be here when you get home. Promise.”

She nods and squeezes my legs before letting go.

Linden puts on her bravest face as she loads her daughter into her car, and I study each cop’s face, making sure I memorize the men who let this happen.

They might not have facilitated it, but they know it’s wrong.

Chapter Eighteen

Linden

I’m sobbing so hard by the time I pull back into my driveway, I can hardly see Jack pacing back and forth in front of my house.

Before I even park, he’s at my door and pulling me out of the car. I collapse in his arms and let my tears soak his shirt.

“If they can do this, they can take her from me,” I cry.

“That won’t happen. It won’t.”

“You don’t know that. They can do anything!”

“Linden, look at me.” His hands cradle my face, forcing me to look up at him. “She is your daughter. They can’t have her. No judge in their right mind would take custody from you.”

“One of them was willing to create a grandparent’s rights custody agreement.”

“Two hours. Twice a week. That’s not the same as taking her out of your custody.”

“This is only the beginning,” I warn ominously, and he doesn’t even bother denying it.

He doesn’t know about the bedroom they’re hiding in their mansion fit for Avery, but I do. I can’t stop thinking about what it implies.