Chapter 6 - The Number She Was Never Supposed to Need
Three months changed more than the previous ten years had.
Dean pleaded guilty after investigators matched his statements to Frankie's records.
Frankie's ledger opened investigations that spread through several businesses, city offices, and criminal networks.
Some men blamed me.
Others disappeared.
I closed two warehouses.
Sold my interests in businesses I should have walked away from years earlier.
Nico hated the paperwork.
“You realize legitimate businesses have taxes?”
“Yes.”
“Forms?”
“Yes.”
“Inspections?”
“Yes.”
“This is terrible.”
I looked up from my desk.
“You miss criminals?”
“They were more punctual.”
The Black Harbor Club remained.
Jazz downstairs.
Private offices upstairs.
But the locked hallway behind the kitchen disappeared.
So did several men who had once considered themselves indispensable.
Sarah moved into a small apartment in Lincoln Park with Lily.
Not mine.
Hers.
I paid the first three months.
She paid everything after that.
She found work at St. Anne’s—the same shelter where she had met Elena.
One Thursday afternoon, she arrived at the club.
Lily marched ahead carrying a backpack.
“Vincent!”
Every employee turned.
I closed my eyes.
Sarah laughed.
“She has no understanding of your reputation.”
“Clearly.”
Lily climbed onto the chair opposite my desk.
“I have homework.”
“Congratulations.”
“You have to help.”
“Why?”
“Mom's bad at fractions.”
Sarah stopped.
“Excuse me?”
“You said fractions are evil.”
“They are.”
I took the worksheet.
Lily watched me.
“What is three-fourths plus one-fourth?”
“One.”
She stared.
“You didn't even write it.”
“I don't need to.”
She looked impressed.
Sarah sat down.
“You created a monster.”
“Apparently.”
Lily started working.
Sarah lowered her voice.
“The hearing is Monday.”
“I know.”
“Dean's parental rights.”
“I know.”
“He's fighting.”
“He won't win.”
“You can't promise that.”
“No.”
I leaned back.
“But your attorney thinks the evidence is overwhelming.”
Sarah nodded.
Then she looked toward Lily.
“Sometimes I still wake up expecting him to be there.”
I didn't answer immediately.
“Does Lily?”
“Sometimes.”
“Then keep doing what you're doing.”
“What?”
“Giving her boring days.”
Sarah smiled.
“Boring?”
“School. Homework. Pancakes.”
“She likes pancakes because of you.”
“She liked pancakes before me.”
“Now she calls them rescue pancakes.”
I stared at her.
“You're joking.”
“No.”
Lily looked up.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Can Vincent come Monday?”
Sarah hesitated.
“Sweetheart—”
“To court.”
I looked at Lily.
“Why?”
She shrugged.
“Because I don't get scared as much when you're there.”
The room became silent.
Sarah looked at me.
“You don't have to.”
I remembered another child.
My sister Elena.
A kitchen table.
A night when nobody came.
“I'll be there.”
Monday morning, the judge ruled that Dean would have no contact with Lily pending further review and granted Sarah sole custody.
Outside the courthouse, Sarah cried.
Quietly.
Not dramatically.
Just relief finally escaping.
Lily hugged her.
Then she ran toward me.
“We won!”
I crouched.
“Your mother won.”
“We all won.”
She threw her arms around my neck.
I froze.
Nico stood nearby.
He smiled.
“Don't.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was about to say you have a nine o'clock meeting.”
“You're lying.”
“Absolutely.”
Sarah approached.
“Thank you.”
I shook my head.
“You did this.”
“You answered.”
“Lily texted.”
“And you answered.”
She looked directly at me.
“That's the part she'll remember.”
My phone buzzed.
I instinctively reached for it.
Lily immediately looked worried.
“Bad message?”
I checked.
Nico.
Standing fifteen feet away.
You're late for pancakes.
I looked at him.
He shrugged.
Lily peeked at the screen.
“Pancakes!”
May you like
Sarah laughed.
And for once, a message on my private phone meant nothing more dangerous than breakfast.
