They all turned as he vaulted the steps, found Tiger clinging to his grandmother’s neck. Ingrid looked furious—Darek had always feared that face—and his father seemed moments away from being thrown into the back of Kyle’s cruiser.
Kyle met Darek’s eyes, something of regret in his own even as he held up his hand. “Calm down, Darek.”
“It’s going to be okay.” This from Ivy, who stood slightly away, dressed in her lawyer clothes, her arms folded across herself, her face almost white.
“Daddy!” Tiger reached for him, and of course Darek pulled him into his arms.
And then he rounded on Diane, who wore her lips tightly bunched, held a file in her hands. “What’s going on here?”
“The court has issued an emergency removal for Theo, Darek. I’m sorry, but he’s going to have to come with us.”
For a moment—an eternal, bloodletting second—his heart simply stopped. Refused to beat as he stared at Diane.
Then at Ivy.
She swallowed, her expression wretched, tears glazing her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“I . . .” He closed his mouth, tried to get his wind back. “Over my dead body.”
“Darek—” Kyle started.
“You don’t have a choice,” Diane said. “That’s why Kyle is here. You’ll be taken into custody if you don’t release your son.”
“What are you talking about? Why—? I don’t understand.” He turned to his mother, but she had a hand pressed to her mouth. His father looked at him, his jaw tight, and gave a small shake of his head.
“We know about Saturday night, about Theo getting lost in the woods.”
Ivy looked away.
Darek blinked at that, not sure . . . “He wandered off.”
“It doesn’t matter. The court has decided that CPS needs to take a closer look at Theo’s situation. There will be a hearing in seventy-two hours to discuss further action.”
“Three days? And where is Tiger going to be during those three days, Diane? Please don’t tell me a foster—”
“He’ll stay with Nan and George.”
Of course. “No.”
“Please, Darek,” Ivy said, coming to life now. “Trust me.”
He stared at her, and everything inside him settled into one dark, glowing coal. “What’s going on, Ivy? Did you know about this?”
“Don’t blame her, Darek. She’s just doing her job.”
Doing her—? “What do you mean? Did you—did you agree to this?”
He reached out and yanked the file Diane held, opened it, reading over Tiger’s shoulder.
He wanted to howl when he found Ivy’s signature, petitioning for the emergency removal order.
“Darek—” Ivy started, but his expression must have scared her because she closed her mouth. Winced.
“I promise we’ll take good care of him,” Kyle said. “Tiger, would you like to see my police car?” He leaned toward Tiger, glancing at Darek. Mouthing, I’m sorry.
It was the only thing that kept Darek from landing his fist in the deputy’s face, right there, and facing who knew what kind of charge.
Instead, he took a breath and glanced at his mother, who nodded.
Oh, he couldn’t do this.
But despite the clawing in his chest to just run, to take Tiger and strap him into his car seat and vanish, he forced a smile.
“Hey, buddy. Would you like to go see your grandma and grandpa for a few days?” Darek leaned back, met his son’s eyes.
“No. I wanna stay with you!”
“I know, pal. But your grandma really wants to see you. And Ivy will bring you there; won’t you, Ivy?”
“Yeah. Sure, bud. Maybe we can stop and get ice cream.” She ran her hand down Tiger’s back.
Tiger looked up, so much trust in his eyes that Darek wanted to strangle Ivy. But perhaps this was the show she put on for people. Making them believe in her, trust her, before she decimated their lives.
A true prosecutor. A manipulator.
He should have figured that out. Hadn’t she told him, even warned him away? I have a good thing going, and suddenly I wreck everything. And then it’s just over.
Yes, it certainly was.
“Go with Ivy.” He kissed his son and, despite the boy’s grip, managed to pry him off, put him on the ground. He gave Tiger’s hand to Ivy.
She took it, smiled at Tiger. “I promise, everything is going to be just fine.”
When she glanced at Darek, he took a second to narrow his eyes at her before he stepped away.
“We’ll be in touch,” Diane said. “C’mon, Theo.” She led them off the deck.
Darek followed the troupe to the edge of the parking lot and watched as Kyle buckled his son into the cruiser, as Diane slid in beside him. He barely had the courage to lift his hand and smile as Tiger pressed his little palm to the window.