Chapter 4 - The Judge’s Son Declares War
Working for Damian Valdez was not what Tessa expected.
Leo did not live in a dark mansion filled with guns and suspicious men.
He lived in a modern stone house near Lincoln Park with enormous windows, quiet hallways and too many empty rooms.
On her first afternoon, Tessa found him seated at the kitchen island, staring at a mathematics worksheet.
“What’s the problem?” she asked.
“Fractions.”
“I meant why are you angry?”
“Fractions.”
“That’s fair.”
Leo pushed the paper toward her.
Tessa sat beside him.
“Your father says you refuse to ask for help.”
“He doesn’t ask for help.”
“Your father is not our standard for healthy behavior.”
A voice came from the doorway.
“I can hear you.”
Damian entered, removing his coat.
Tessa did not look up.
“That sounds like a personal problem.”
Leo smiled.
Damian watched the two of them for a moment.
On the counter sat the repaired silver robot.
Tessa had replaced the broken wheel and reattached the arm.
Leo activated it. The toy rolled across the counter and flashed blue lights.
“You fixed it,” Damian said.
“She said broken things can still work,” Leo replied.
Damian’s gaze settled on Tessa.
“So they can.”
The calm lasted twelve days.
Then the first photograph appeared online.
It showed Tessa leaving Damian’s house with Leo.
The headline called her “The Mafia Boss’s Mystery Woman.”
By noon, a second article accused her of accepting blood money.
By evening, the nursing school’s dean requested a meeting.
Tessa entered Dean Matthews’s office the next morning.
The dean turned a laptop toward her.
“Is this you?”
“Yes.”
“Are you employed by Damian Valdez?”
“I provide childcare for his son.”
“Mr. Valdez is associated with organized crime.”
“Associated by whom?”
“The newspapers.”
“The same newspapers calling me his mistress?”
Dean Matthews sighed.
“This program places students in hospitals. Those hospitals expect professional judgment.”
“My employer’s reputation has nothing to do with my clinical work.”
“It may affect patient confidence.”
“Has anyone complained about my care?”
“No.”
“Have my grades fallen?”
“No.”
“Have I violated a rule?”
The dean hesitated.
“No.”
“Then why am I here?”
“Because appearances matter.”
Tessa leaned forward.
“A six-year-old boy was nearly struck in a restaurant. I protected him. His father hired me because the child trusts me. That is the appearance you should care about.”
She left before the dean could answer.
Outside, Damian waited beside the SUV.
“I told you not to come.”
“You sounded angry on the phone.”
“I am angry.”
“What happened?”
She told him.
Damian’s face hardened.
“I’ll speak to the dean.”
“You will do absolutely nothing.”
“He threatened your education.”
“He reminded me that people are cowards.”
“I can remind him that decisions have consequences.”
“That sentence is exactly why you’re staying out of it.”
Damian opened the rear door.
Leo sat inside with headphones on, drawing.
Tessa lowered her voice.
“Who released the photograph?”
“We’re investigating.”
“Trent?”
“Likely.”
“What does he want?”
“To isolate you.”
“Why?”
“To punish me.”
She stared at him.
“So I’m a weapon now.”
Damian’s voice became quiet.
“No. You’re a target.”
“That is worse.”
“I warned you.”
“You didn’t tell me that a judge’s son would destroy my career to irritate you.”
“I didn’t believe he would be that foolish.”
Tessa stepped away from the vehicle.
“I’m quitting.”
Damian’s expression changed.
“Think carefully.”
“I have thought carefully.”
“Leo depends on you.”
“That is unfair.”
“It is true.”
“You don’t get to use your son to keep me close.”
“I’m trying to keep you safe.”
“No, you’re trying to control the situation.”
Damian closed the car door so Leo couldn’t hear.
“Trent has crossed a line.”
“And now you’ll cross a bigger one?”
“If necessary.”
“This is why I can’t stay.”
She turned away.
Damian caught her wrist, then immediately released it.
Tessa faced him.
His hand fell to his side.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
The apology surprised her more than the touch.
Damian continued.
“You can leave the job. I won’t stop you. But security remains until Whitaker is handled.”
“No.”
“That is not negotiable.”
“You promised I could leave whenever I wanted.”
“I promised you could leave the job. I did not promise to let someone harm you.”
“You don’t own me.”
His voice sharpened.
“I know.”
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then the rear door opened.
Leo stepped onto the sidewalk.
“Are you leaving?”
Tessa looked at him.
“I need some time.”
“Because of me?”
“No.”
“Everyone leaves because of Dad.”
Damian’s face tightened.
Tessa crouched.
“I’m not angry with you.”
“Then come home.”
The word struck her.
Home.
Before she could answer, a motorcycle roared around the corner.
The rider lifted one hand.
Damian shouted, “Down!”
He threw himself over Leo.
A bottle flew from the motorcycle and shattered against the SUV.
Red liquid splashed across the black paint.
Not blood.
Paint.
A message had been taped to the bottle.
Marco grabbed it.
Damian read the words.
NEXT TIME IT’S REAL.
Tessa stared at the street where the motorcycle had vanished.
“You said he was foolish,” she whispered.
Damian’s expression became deadly calm.
“I underestimated him.”
Leo clung to his father.
Tessa looked at the red paint dripping down the SUV like blood.
“What happens now?”
May you like
Damian handed the note to Marco.
“Now Judge Whitaker learns what his son has started.”
