“We did it,” she whispered. “We have the upper hand now.”

As we walked out of the courtroom, Grant was waiting in the hallway.

He stood near the water fountain, his arms crossed over his chest.

Daniel was gone, likely fleeing the building before any more questions could be asked.

Grant stepped into my path, his face a mask of quiet rage.

“You think you won something today, Claire?” Grant said, his voice low so the passing bailiffs wouldn’t hear.

“I protected my son,” I said, holding his gaze.

“You’ve made a very expensive mistake,” Grant said, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper.

I went to walk past him, but his next words stopped me cold.

“Your mother loves her little apartment at the Shady Grove senior community, doesn’t she?” Grant said.

A chill ran down my spine, more freezing than the wind outside.

“What does my mother have to do with this?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“The facility is lovely,” Grant said, a slow, terrible smile spreading across his face. “It’s a shame the holding company that owns the land is having financial trouble.”