When he saw me, his eyes narrowed.

He took a step toward me.

Marcus stepped into his path, his broad shoulders blocking Grant’s view entirely.

Grant stopped, his jaw twitching.

“This is a family matter, General,” Grant spat.

“It became a federal matter when you forged my officer’s signature on a land deed, Mr. Holloway,” Marcus said calmly.

The bailiff opened the double doors.

“All rise for Courtroom 4B,” the bailiff called out.

We took our seats at the defense table.

Judge Arthur Vance sat at the high wooden bench.

He was a silver-haired man with sharp blue eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses.

“We are here on an emergency petition for temporary custody filed by the father, Grant Holloway,” Judge Vance said.

Grant’s attorney stood up first.

“Your Honor, my client’s daughter was born yesterday,” the lawyer said.

“Her mother, Colonel Langley, has kept her military deployments and millions of dollars in hidden trusts secret from her husband.”

“She is an active-duty soldier who could be deployed at any moment.”

“She is unstable, and she is denying my client access to his newborn child.”