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

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

, 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 expec

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

ranger drops off a baby on y

im to the

hospital. That's what the case report

. "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

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 of the mansion wandering around somewhere. A man like

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