Chapter 2 - The Rule Eli Broke Twice
Maya Bennett had worked at Valenti House for eleven days.
She had spent the first ten trying to become invisible.
At thirty-two, invisibility was something she had become good at.
She cleaned rooms quietly.
Asked no questions.
Ignored conversations she wasn't supposed to hear.
And never looked surprised when black SUVs arrived after midnight.
She needed the job.
Eli needed stability.
That mattered more than curiosity.
Her older son, Noah, was sixteen and understood the rules.
Eli considered rules personal challenges.
The following afternoon, Maya discovered exactly how much of a challenge.
She was cleaning the upstairs library when Noah appeared.
“Mom.”
She immediately recognized his expression.
“What happened?”
“Eli disappeared.”
The cleaning cloth dropped from her hand.
They found him in the ballroom.
Again.
This time, music was playing.
Not elegant classical music.
Baseball stadium music.
Dante sat near the fireplace, looking deeply irritated.
Eli had placed two laundry baskets on opposite sides of the ballroom.
“What is happening?”
Maya demanded.
Eli pointed his hockey stick.
“Penalty shots.”
“Against who?”
“Him.”
He pointed at Dante.
Maya stared.
Dante lifted an eyebrow.
“Apparently I'm losing.”
“You agreed to this?”
“No.”
Eli corrected him.
“You didn't say no.”
“I ignored you.”
“That's different.”
Dante's mouth twitched.
Maya noticed.
So did Noah.
Eli positioned the red ball on the marble.
“Your turn.”
Dante looked at him.
“My turn to do what?”
“Stop the shot.”
“With what?”
“Your foot.”
The room changed.
Maya immediately stepped forward.
“Eli.”
The boy looked confused.
“What?”
“You don't say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because Mr. Valenti can't move his legs.”
Eli looked at Dante.
Then at the wheelchair.
Then back at Dante.
“Can't?”
Dante's face hardened.
“No.”
Eli tilted his head.
“Or doesn't?”
Victor, standing near the doors, went completely still.
Maya's stomach dropped.
Dante's voice became colder.
“Ninety-seven specialists have examined me.”
“That's a lot.”
“They all reached the same conclusion.”
Eli walked closer.
“What conclusion?”
“That the nerves controlling my legs were permanently damaged.”
Eli thought about that.
Then shrugged.
“Doctors told Noah he'd never throw normally again.”
Noah stiffened.
“Eli.”
But Dante looked toward the teenager.
“What happened?”
Noah rubbed his right shoulder.
“Car accident.”
Maya answered quietly.
“Three years ago.”
Eli continued.
“He couldn't lift his arm.”
Noah sighed.
“Then physical therapy helped.”
“So?”
Eli looked at Dante.
“Maybe number ninety-eight needs to be better.”
Dante stared at him.
Then something unexpected happened.
He laughed.
Quietly.
Briefly.
But unmistakably.
Eli grinned.
“There. You look less like Batman's angry uncle now.”
Dante laughed again.
And beneath the dark wool blanket covering his legs—
something tightened.
Dante's laughter stopped.
His eyes dropped.
His left thigh had moved.
Barely.
But he had felt it.
May you like
For the first time in seven years.
---
