Chapter 17
Leo’s recorded statement played behind closed doors.
Only the judge, lawyers, jury, and required officers stayed.
I sat in the hallway with Adrian.
Every part of me wanted to be inside.
Every good part of me knew Leo deserved privacy.
Adrian handed me coffee.
“I still hate you some days,” he said.
“I know.”
“But Sofia loved you.”
I stared at the cup.
“I failed her.”
“Yes.”
The honesty hurt.
Then he added, “But you didn’t fail Leo in that garage.”
I closed my eyes.
“That may have to be enough.”
“It’s a start.”
Inside, my son told the truth.
He told them Helena made him clean.
Helena said food was earned.
Helena said I would send him away.
Helena said Sofia left because weak children ruin mothers.
When the courtroom doors opened, the prosecutor’s eyes were red.
Helena’s face was stone.
The next day, she took the stand against advice.
She said Sofia was unstable.
She said I was violent.
She said Leo lied because he wanted attention.
Then the prosecutor played one final audio clip from her key fob.
Helena’s own voice filled the courtroom.
“Cry louder next time, Leo. Your father comes faster when you sound broken.”
A juror covered her mouth.
Helena went pale.
The prosecutor stepped closer.
“You recorded yourself abusing him?”
Helena whispered, “I recorded Carmine.”
May you like
“But you caught yourself.”
For the first time, Helena had no answer.
