Chapter 5 - The Woman in the WallsThe twins woke at noon.
Leo began crying first. Luca followed ten seconds later.
Their distress escalated quickly.
Natasha dimmed the lights and started the rhythm. Simon joined her without being asked.
Three beats.
Snap.
Snap.
Snap.
The babies calmed.
Simon’s fingers moved more steadily now.
Natasha glanced at him.
“You’re learning.”
“I’m motivated.”
“That’s one word for it.”
He looked down at the twins.
“What did Elena mean when she said not to separate them?”
“Twins often develop shared regulation patterns. Especially premature or medically fragile infants. Their breathing, heart rate, and sleep cycles can influence each other.”
“Could someone use that against them?”
“If they were separated suddenly, it could increase distress.”
“Vincent wants custody.”
“Why?”
“Because if I’m removed, he becomes their legal guardian.”
Natasha stopped the rhythm.
“Removed how?”
Simon did not answer.
The answer arrived that evening.
Two black sedans stopped outside the tower. A team of uniformed officers entered the lobby with a court order.
Simon’s security chief appeared at the nursery door.
“Child services and police.”
Simon rose.
Natasha instinctively moved closer to the twins.
“What do they want?”
“To investigate allegations of neglect.”
Simon’s expression turned murderous.
“Who filed the complaint?”
“We don’t know.”
The officers entered the penthouse with a social worker.
The woman held a file against her chest.
“Mr. Gambino, we have a temporary order requiring the children to be placed under protective supervision.”
“They are under medical care.”
“We have reports that the children were exposed to unsafe conditions and unauthorized medication.”
Simon looked at Natasha.
She felt the pieces lock together.
The sedative.
The cut oxygen cord.
The false report.
Someone had created a crisis, then arranged for the state to remove the twins.
The social worker turned toward Natasha.
“Are you the waitress?”
“Music therapist.”
“Are you licensed?”
“Not currently practicing.”
“Then you’re not qualified to direct medical care.”
“I haven’t directed medical care. I stabilized them while the doctor was called.”
“Did you administer medication?”
“No.”
“Did you touch the oxygen equipment?”
“No.”
The social worker opened the file.
“Then explain why your fingerprints were found on the medical supplies.”
Natasha felt Simon move behind her.
“I handled the babies,” she said. “Of course my fingerprints are there.”
The social worker’s expression remained skeptical.
One of the officers stepped toward the nursery.
Simon blocked him.
“You will not enter without their physician.”
“We have a warrant.”
“You have paper.”
The officer’s hand moved toward his weapon.
Natasha stepped between them.
“Everyone lower their voices.”
Simon looked at her.
“Get away from me.”
“No.”
His eyes flashed.
“If they take my sons—”
“They won’t take them because you threaten police officers.”
He stared at her.
Then, slowly, he stepped aside.
Dr. Allen arrived ten minutes later and reviewed the documents. He objected to the removal, citing the infants’ medical fragility, but the order remained valid.
The social worker instructed the guards to prepare the children.
Natasha watched helplessly as a stranger reached for Leo.
The baby began to shake.
Luca immediately started crying.
Natasha raised her hand.
Three beats.
The twins’ attention shifted.
“Let me go with them,” she said.
The social worker hesitated.
“They’re attached to me. If you separate me, their symptoms may worsen.”
The woman looked toward Dr. Allen.
He nodded reluctantly.
“She should accompany them temporarily.”
Simon stepped close to Natasha.
His voice was low.
“I will get them back.”
“Don’t attack anyone.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
The twins were carried downstairs.
Natasha followed them into the elevator.
Simon remained in the penthouse, surrounded by armed men and fury.
Just before the doors closed, he caught her wrist.
“Don’t trust anyone.”
She looked at his hand.
“Especially your family?”
“Especially everyone.”
The elevator descended.
At the lobby, a black van waited.
The social worker opened the rear door.
Natasha climbed inside with the twins.
A second later, the doors locked.
The driver accelerated.
Natasha looked through the window.
The vehicle was not headed toward a hospital.
It turned away from the city.
Her phone had no signal.
The social worker sat beside her, silent.
Natasha looked at the woman’s hands.
There was a silver ring on her middle finger.
The snake wrapped around the dagger.
Natasha reached for the emergency latch.
The woman grabbed her arm.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
Then she leaned close.
“Your employer isn’t the danger.”
May you like
Her voice trembled.
“Simon is.”
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