I had said that. Time and again, when struggling to keep my head above water, running on only a couple of hours of sleep, and trying to make sure Jules had everything she needed. “I always want us to be on the same team. But my team has Anna, Justin, and Lyla on it now, too.”

Juliette’s jaw clenched, and she worked it back and forth. She pulled a folder out of her bag and threw it onto my desk. “I was looking out for you. I can’t believe you’d want those children to be with a woman like this, instead of two loving grandparents who would have all of the time and energy in the world to devote to them. She must have some sort of golden vagina to make you forget what we went through.”

Before I could say a word, correct the stream of bullshit that had just fallen from Juliette’s mouth, she turned on her heel and stormed out of my office. I could only stare after her. How had we come to this?

I gritted my teeth and tapped out a text.

Me: You have a world of misinformation. If you could listen to me for five minutes before throwing a tantrum, you’d see that.

It only took a few seconds for a reply.

Juliette: Look at that folder and tell me I’m wrong.

Me: I don’t need to. I can already tell you that you are.

But the folder was already flipped open. There was an array of photos and newspaper clippings. Some of the articles I’d seen, some I hadn’t. All wove a picture of a young girl who’d used her innocent looks to get away with pumping drugs into her high school.

The photos made me nauseous. Anna with glassy eyes, Derek’s hands all over her. They looked like pictures friends had taken at a party. I knew it was all normal, the typical kind of high school rebellion, yet a lead weight settled in my stomach. I hadn’t had that kind of rebellion. I’d been too busy taking care of Juliette. And if the courts got ahold of this, it might be enough to skew things in Anna’s parents’ direction.

I tapped out another text—this time to Dante. I paused before hitting send, knowing it was a violation. But I couldn’t wait for Anna to tell me what we needed to know. There was too much riding on this custody battle. We had to cover all of our bases if we were to keep Justin and Lyla safe. I could take Anna’s anger, and I knew she’d eventually understand why it needed to be done.

Me: I need you to dig into Anna’s background. See what the other side could dig up that could hurt us.

Dante: On it.