Chapter 6 - The Trap
I looked up and saw tiny, blinking red lights mounted in the corners of the living room ceiling.
They had intentionally lured me here to record my violent reaction on a hidden security system.
If I assaulted my father, I would be arrested, and they would win permanent custody of Tyler and Emma.
I slowly released my father's collar and took a deep, steadying breath to calm my racing heart.
"You are going to regret this for the rest of your miserable lives," I whispered coldly.
I turned around and walked out of the house, refusing to play into their twisted, manipulative game.
I sat in my car and immediately called my attorney, Sarah.
"They took the kids using a fake emergency order, and they set a trap to record me getting violent," I explained rapidly.
"Jack, do not engage with them anymore, they are building a narrative to destroy your character," Sarah warned.
"I need to find out exactly where Thomas the lawyer filed those custody papers," I demanded.
Sarah promised to pull every string she had in the family court system.
I drove back to my empty home, where Laura was pacing the floor in absolute agony.
I held her tightly, promising her that I would tear the city apart until our children were safely back in their beds.
An hour later, Sarah called me back with a breakthrough.
"Thomas did not file the papers in our county, he filed them in a rural jurisdiction three towns over," Sarah revealed.
"He used a corrupt judge who owes him favors to rubber-stamp the emergency order."
"But I also found something else while digging into Melissa's financial background," Sarah continued.
"What is it?" I asked, praying for any kind of leverage.
May you like
"Melissa does not own a legitimate business at all," Sarah said grimly.
"She is heavily indebted to an illegal offshore gambling syndicate, and they are threatening her life."
