She pressed her hands against his bloody chest in an effort to stop the bleeding. “I don’t care how tired you are. Maia and I need you. Stay with me.”

“I…love you.”

“I love you too. Now stay with me.”

Joseph tried to smile at her, but the smile quickly became a grimace. He started to cough. Pink spittle flew from his lips. His coughing became even more frequent. Even harder. And then it stopped. Joseph was still. She shook him.

“Joseph? Joseph?”

Her bloody hands touched his neck. No pulse. He was gone.

“No. No. No.”

Her lips trembled and she cried, holding her husband’s bloody body to her own. And that was how the paramedics found her fifteen minutes later.

Fifteen minutes too late. Her child had lost her father because the ambulance was late. Her world had been turned upside down because of being late. She wouldn’t let that happen again. As the flow of traffic started to increase, Ava increased her speed and weaved her way through the vehicles on the road. She couldn’t be late. Maia’s future was at stake and she wasn’t going to let her daughter lose it because she didn’t make it to the hearing on time. Lateness had cost her family enough already.

Chapter Nineteen

“Now no matter what he or his attorney says, show no emotion. Remain calm,” Melissa said.

Ava nodded, acknowledging her attorney’s words. They were sitting outside the judge’s chambers waiting for him to call them inside. Five minutes had elapsed and so far there was no sign of Dominic or his attorney.

“Perhaps we’ll get lucky and neither of them will show,” Ava said.

Melissa shook her head. “I doubt it. I heard Lombardi himself will be representing Dominic. Apparently this is high profile enough for one of the partners to actually do a little work.”

Ava gave Melissa a look.

“Don’t worry. He has no grounds for this suit and we’re going to prove that.”

Ava looked down at her watch. Five minutes until their hearing. The elevator next to them dinged and the door opened. A raven-haired man with a thick mustache clutched a briefcase and exited the elevator. Less than a foot behind him was Dominic. Ava’s stomach turned to knots and a bitter taste filled her mouth. The traitor had arrived. Fresh anger rose up in her. Dominic was dressed in a black suit. A crisp white shirt accented his attire. He looked like the son of a mob boss and suddenly she hated him for it.

“Melissa, nice to see you.”

Ava’s attorney rose. “I can’t say the same about you, Mike.” She extended her hand.

“Pity to hear that. I was hoping we might have a drink afterwards.”

“Not in this life,” Melissa said, taking her hand back.

Dominic stood off to the side from his attorney, his gaze firmly locked on her. Ava tried to ignore it. Tried to pretend she didn’t feel the force of his gaze even without looking at him. She closed her eyes, but it didn’t help. Her mind flashed back to their lovemaking. To his mouth at her breast. To his head between her thighs. Stop it, Ava. Her eyes opened and her gaze came to rest on Dominic. She gave him a frosty glare. He made a move towards her and she shook her head in the negative warning him away.

The door opened in front of them and out stepped a petite brunette rocking a chic asymmetrical bob. “Are you the parties of Hill and Sambarino?”

“Yes we are,” Melissa and Mike said in unison.

“Judge Masters will see you all now,” the brunette said.

Lombardi made a sweeping motion with his hands. “After you ladies.”

Ava rose to her feet. The brunette opened the door to allow them inside. As Ava stepped forward, Dominic grabbed her hand. He looked at her, a pleading expression on his face. She jerked her hand away and marched inside. Down a small hallway, Ava followed. At the end was another door. The brunette opened it and stepped aside. A tall, grey haired man wearing a black robe stood looking out a window. When he heard their footsteps, he turned around. His frosty blue eyes were framed by bushy brows.

“Judge Masters, Melissa James. This is my client, Ms. Hill.”

“Please be seated, ladies.”

“Judge Masters, Michael Lombardi. I’ll be representing Dominic Sambarino Martelli.”

Ava gritted her teeth as Dominic and his attorney entered the judge’s chambers. She took a seat next to Melissa in one of the rounded leather chairs in front of the judge’s desk.

“Please be seated, gentlemen.”

The judge sat down behind his desk as Dominic and Lombardi sat in the chairs on the right of Melissa and Ava.

The judge cleared his throat. “I’ve read over both of your petitions. Ms. James, tell me why you feel Mr. Sambarino’s suit should be dismissed.”

“Lack of grounds. Lack of evidence to start with.”

“Go on,” Judge Masters said.

“Your Honor, there is no evidence to support Mr. Sambarino’s claim that he is indeed the deceased Joseph Martelli’s son. All we have is his word and in the court of law that means nothing. Without proof that he is a blood relative he has no standing to bring this suit and without standing it must be dropped.”

“Okay Counselor, I’ve heard your stance on the matter. Mr. Lombardi, what say you?” Judge Masters said.

“Your Honor, my client would not waste your or the court’s time by bringing a frivolous lawsuit unless he had something to go on. Mr. Sambarino was told by his mother that the deceased was his father and records show that the deceased Mr. Martelli has made financial contributions over the years, as well as spent significant amounts of time with my client.”

“Which means nothing,” Melissa cut in.

“Counselor,” the judge said, leveling her with a hard glare.

Melissa sat back in her seat. Ava could feel the tenseness radiating off Melissa. Her attorney sure didn’t seem to like Mike Lombardi. Ava wondered if the dislike was more than professional.

“Continue, Mr. Lombardi.”

“Thank you, Judge. As I was saying, as far as my client is concerned, Joseph Martelli was his father and he only seeks a portion of what is rightfully his. Because of the openness Mr. Martelli displayed with my client we believe Ms. Hill was well aware of their relationship and used undue influence to force her husband to leave my client out of his will.”

When Melissa opened her mouth to speak, Judge Masters held his hand up. “I’ve heard from both sides and here are my thoughts. There is no conclusive proof that Mr. Sambarino is or is not the deceased’s son. In addition, because the will was properly executed and filed with the courts, the burden to prove Ms. Hill exercised undue influence will be a hard burden of proof for Mr. Sambarino to present. Therefore, based on the circumstances the only way to proceed with this is to arrange for a DNA test.”

“Your Honor, Ms. Hill has an estranged brother-in-law who will be less than cooperative in establishing a familial link and a small daughter. Surely, we are not going to subject a child to these proceedings?” Melissa asked.

“I see nothing wrong with retrieving DNA from a child using the cotton swab method. After all as the child of the deceased Mr. Martelli, that would be the closest link to determining with a certainty if my client is the child’s half brother and other child of the deceased.”

“Your Honor,” Melissa pleaded.

“How old is your child, Ms. Hill?” Judge Masters asked.

“Five, Your Honor,” Ava said.

“While I agree that is a bit young to be dragged into these proceedings, unfortunately it must be done. At the date and time ordered by this court, Ms. Hill will bring her daughter for a DNA test.”

“But, your Honor—” Melissa protested.

“That is my final word. Ms. James, you and Mr. Lombardi and I will hash out the details regarding the test. Both of your clients are free to go.”