I

Mr. Viktorov, apparently. "I see CPS

his shoulders wasn't meant to be contained to an office chair. The tattoos I know cover his arms are h

most talkat

lift my jaw off the floor. I closed my mouth

ved my life

ded to haun

s in fro

embling logic, but I come up empty. Instead, I

an ask. "You're in the right place." He settles back

"How did you-do you know m

ly." I don't miss the note

m aware of that. But you don't find that a little odd?

f my brain. A suspicion I can't

prised to see me," Mr. Viktorov answe

pay me enough to be in it for the money. So I want to argue that of

ere for the worst part of it," I say. "Excuse me f

ave our w

ve a feeling that whatever species he

he chair across from him. "Sit. Read. I'll wait. I'

er to hold in my retort.

le to focus with his eyes on me. Especially since he makes no move to avert

o grasp the highlights of Mr. Viktorov's case. I ba

a doctor and ki

ttom. If a birth parent is a flight risk or if the child has severe allergies, that kind of thing. But Mr.

, allergy-free

o suspected to belong to a

times. No one at CPS wants to get in a legal war with a violent, criminal billionaire. But

e along with me for some protection. But the image of James in his sweater vests,

r, I'm guessing you'

ore quickly setting the folder aside a

our co

is entirely my conc

placement for the child left on my doorst

Viktorov. The child is a very important factor in a

head. "That is

's start at the beginning.

that part, but whe

tween my teeth. I'm sure Mr. Viktorov knows exactly how to make a baby. If he ever w

thal. I do my best to focus on the expanse of the desk between us.

droppe

wh

hould

expensive,with a gate, and you expect

mpt to sound believable. He doesn't need to. He k

nger drops off a baby on y

im to the

ospital. That's what the case report s

. "Yes. Then I c

ed the ba

nja

ha

. "That is his name. I

or. The report says you

s rhetorically, his

a murderer would have been mentioned front and center, right?

. "If I'd strangled him, he'd be dead. I sim

e again, rain dripping down his neck as he looms over my attacker.The only thing you need t

full of helpf

want the baby? Ar

were here to

nted guardianship, Mr. Viktorov. Right now,

ey," h

ought the child's

is. My Name

settles low in my belly. Hearing a name has ne

tinues. "That doesn't change the fact that he

hy

babies need a han

l lifts and resettles on my forehead. I wouldn't be surprised to find steam pouring

for a random baby left on your doorstep? I've been a so

you so sure

, I-the chart said-I guess it didn't exactly say. I assumed. There w

s me hope that the smirking dream version of Timofey isn't complete

rtner. I can raise Benja

if there is a woman in the mansion wandering around somewhere. A man like

partner. It's not pertinent to the case and it would be inapp

is what I'm here to determine," I say. "Bas

nst my wrists, assessing how accurate my dream was this morning. How e

my file co

"You are a smart man, Mr. Vik-

riors on there. Let's focus on what matte

icks into place. And when it does, I gasp. "Oh m

ean." It's a statem

ttack me so you could show up and save me. You wanted to get in my good graces

ith a stare, the s

re you going to even

you think I need to resort to an elaborate set-up to get what I want...It's beneath me. The theory is be

So what were you

breathes. "T

suggestion in his voice.Was he there for m

know a lot ab

y to sound confident,

nts his palms flat on his desk and rises to his full height, never once looking away from me. I have to crane my neck back to meet his eyes

bt. Good guess. Me and most

"You have taken on the debt of not one, but two relatives. How

e. I can't move. Timofey and I, we're balanced on the precipice o

to know that, this time,

ong between visits. You're a busy girl, what with work and keeping track of your friend Ashley.

ave the urge to reach for my phone right thi

atistics. Especially coming from a broken home. The odds were stacked against you, but you came

s line of work. But the way he

"You can't-You shouldn't know

" he asks. "I'd be surprised. You didn'

are naked in front of

hissed. "There is no way in hell I'm leaving a child in your ca

"Benjamin is staying here. File whatever repo

f your lawyers can handle this, why did you show up at my

s frosty. "You're here because I can save myself the trouble of t

ss," I snee

aren't in desper

erate enough to ac

pportunity. But suddenly, your state college education and experience with children has

l a foot away, I swear I can feel the brush of h

e home to a tiny, overpriced apartment and stare at the ceilin

re you just going t

ng you a generous offer. I don't need a woman in my life, but that doesn't mean there wouldn't be

ied if I say it in a whisper. "I'm not going to be a live-in

k. It's barely there, just a ghost of a smile, but it's t

y. "The option of a promotion is never off the table,

t him. "F

weren't inter

my side. "I will

er-ending debt. You're in a storm and I'm of

my debt. No one has ever dangled a life-changing amount of money in

o let this man raise a child he is obviously not fit to be within a hundr

enough, doing whatever w

do it

and hug it to my thundering chest. "I'm going to submit my report, and it's

st before I step into the hallway

we think," he says. "You're making a mistake.