For one second, her eyes flickered.
Then Calloway said, “The child stays until the ledger is delivered.”
My mother moved like lightning.
Before anyone reacted, she crossed to Celeste and slapped her so hard the sound cracked through the warehouse.
Celeste stumbled.
My mother leaned close. “If that baby misses one feeding because of you, I will spend the rest of my life becoming your nightmare.”
Celeste touched her bleeding lip.
And smiled.
“There she is,” Celeste whispered. “The real Vivienne Ashford.”
We left Samuel there.
Every step away from him tore flesh from my soul.
He was awake now, crying thinly in the bassinet. My milk let down painfully at the sound. My body knew what my arms could not hold.
My mother had to half-carry me to the car.
“No,” I sobbed. “No, I can’t leave him.”
“You are not leaving him,” she whispered fiercely. “You are going to get what brings him home.”
