The Billionaire Playboy’s Secret Family
Chapter 53

Savannah looked again at her grandmother but it was clear there was no escaping the uniformed officers nervously watching from the door. They had yet to enter but it was clear they were at something of a loss. Clearly this was not the situation they were "Don't touch me, you old hag," Tony threatened when the social worker tried to approach again.

expecting.

"Tony, come here," Savannah said stepping toward their bedroom still holding Gabriella. "Carlos, you too. Come on."

The boys reluctantly retreated with her. Ducking into the bedroom they slammed the door closed and locked it but it wouldn't be much of a hindrance to the officers once they were called into action. Savannah sat Gabriella on the bed and dried her tears talking soothingly.

"What the heck is this all about?" Carlos demanded. "Who would have tattled on mom?"

"I bet it was Missus Anderson. She's always butting into other people's business," Tony scowled naming their neighbor down the hall.

Savannah frowned. There was only one person who had visited them recently but she hated to accuse him. Whether Marcus Avery was the triplet's father or not he didn't seem to be the kind of person who would do something like this. "So...what do we do?" Carlos asked.

"Pack," Savannah said with a resigned sigh.

"What! Are you joking?" Tony demanded. "I'm not going anywhere with that witch."

"We don't have a choice," Savannah said. "If we don't go voluntarily they'll take us by force. You saw those officers out there. They might even arrest grandma."

Carlos and Tony sighed. Though they wanted to rebel, they were barely four-and-a-half-years-old. There simply wasn't a way to fight back. Not for the first time they wished they were bigger. Their mother and sisters needed them to grow up so they could protect all of them.

"Grandma is going to call mom and she'll get this sorted...somehow. We just have to take care of each other until then," Savannah announced with more confidence than she felt.

The boys were anything but happy but obediently followed their sister's instructions. Each took out a small duffle bag and hurriedly threw their clothes into it. Savannah did the same for Gabriella and herself.

"I don't want to go with that mean lady," Gabriella complained.

"I don't either, Gaby. But we don't have a choice. Not right now."

"I wish mommy and daddy were here." "Me too."

If their mother were there she would have been putting up a much bigger fight and causing a scene Savannah was sure. In that time she might have been able to call Marcus and tell him what was going on. Though she wasn't sure if he was the triplet's father at the very least he did seem to care. Maybe she should still try to contact him.

The bedroom door rattled with a heavy pounding, "Hurry up!"

Savannah scowled at the door and the social worker's harsh voice. She agreed with her brothers. The woman was a witch. Slinging hers and Gabriella's bag over her shoulder Savannah looked to see Carlos and Tony were also ready. "Come on, Gaby."

"I don't want to go," Gabriella whined clutching her bunny.

"I know. Don't worry mom will figure it out and we will be back home. Come on."

Reluctantly Gabriella slid off the bed and took her sister's hand. With their brothers walking in the vanguard, they opened the bedroom door to face the social worker who stood smugly in the hallway.

"Finally! You've stalled long enough. Let's go!"

"Don't touch me!" Carlos warned when she reached for him. "Keep your hands to yourself, bruja!"

"What did you call me?" she demanded.

"Learn some Spanish and figure it out," Tony said.

They brushed past her heading toward the front door where their grandmother stood with the officers. As soon as she was in sight Gabriella bolted forward, "Lita!"

Ulima scooped her up while Gabriella whimpered and clung to her. The officers shared uneasy glances as the rest of the kids crowded around their grandmother. Carlos and Tony openly glared at the men showing no fear and almost dared them to interrupt. The officers couldn't help but notice the crowd they were gathering after all the shouting. If social services planned a quiet retreat they were out of luck.

"I don't wanna go," Gabriella whimpered.

"I know. I know," Ulima felt helpless. She simply couldn't understand why this was happening. Even if someone complained one look at the apartment was enough to tell anyone the allegations were false. Why would someone target her grandchildren like this? "That's enough!" the social worker announced. "I've wasted enough time. Let's go!"

Gabriella's whimpers became sobs and she gripped her grandmother tighter. On the verge of tears herself Ulima didn't know what she should do.

"I said move it!"

"Come on, Gaby," Savannah gently coaxed. "It'll be okay. You'll see."

Reluctantly Ulima set the little one on her feet. Clinging to Savannah Gabriella allowed herself to be led away staring at the officers in terror.

"Better hide your kids!" Carlos announced as they stepped into the hallway, "or else they'll be taken away and locked up!"

"Yeah! Run and hide. The Po-Po is here! They'll beat you up and throw you in jail. Run! Run! Run!"

The officers nervously glanced down the halls and saw nothing but terrified faces. It was hard enough trying to handle crimes in the area. Most people simply wouldn't report anything and this would not earn them trust with the residents. "Are you taping?" Tony asked. "Better take pictures! Let everyone know the police lock up kids too!"

"Now you...stop that!" the social worker snapped.

"What? You gonna hit me like you hit my brother?" Tony challenged and laughed. "Go ahead! Let's see what you do when there're people watching. Get your phones out! Cameras rolling! Get her best side!"

Tony kept taunting as they shuffled down the hallway with Gabriella clinging to Savannah.

"Wait! Wait! Gaby's medicine!" Ulima emerged after them. She hurried forward with the weekly pill container in hand. The social worker sneered batting it away.

"What do you think you are doing? They will not be taking drugs into their new homes!"

"It's not drugs! It's her medicine. She needs it!"

"Yeah right, tell it to the judge," the social worker spun around shooing the kids forward.

"Please! It's her medicine!" Ulima broke down into tears.

"Easy," one of the officers helped her to her feet. He picked up the pill container. "This is for the little one?"

"Yes, she has a heart condition, please," Ulima stammered.

"Do you have the original prescription bottles?"

"Of course. Come. See," Ulima hurried back into the apartment.

The officer glanced at his partner slowly trailing the small group while the boys continued to goad the crowd. Now that they had an audience the boys could not be stymied. With a sigh he stepped into the apartment and followed Ulima to the kitchen where she took the prescription bottles down from the cupboard. He picked them up, reading the labels: Gabriella Torres.

"A heart condition?" the officer asked.

"Yes. The doctor said these will keep her heart steady," Ulima nodded. "Please..."

"Don't worry. I'll get her the pills," the officer assured her gathering the bottles and glancing around the apartment. "Look, I don't know what is going on here...but tell your daughter to get a lawyer. A good one."

"Lawyer?" Ulima shook her head. "Where is she going to get one of those?"

"It's only a piece of advice," the officer grimaced before taking his leave with Gabriella's pills in hand.

Ulima sank into a chair holding her head. What was she going to do? How did this happen?

With shaking hands she reached for her phone selecting Regina's number. After several rings it went to voicemail. She tried Renata next but it went directly to voicemail. They were still probably working. Then they would have to clean up before either thought of checking their phones. What was she going to do? By then it would be too late...

A lawyer? Who did she know that was a lawyer? Wait... There was someone but would it be right to call them? Ulima hesitated before selecting a new contact. They answered on the second ring.

"Stanton residence."

"Señora? Thank goodness you are home."

"Ulima?" Sarah asked. "I thought you were watching your grandkids today."

"I am. I was. I-they are gone."

"Gone?"

"Child Protective Services took them away," Ulima sobbed. "They said they had a complaint that they weren't being taken care of. They wouldn't let Gaby have her pills. I-I don't know what to do. The officer said to get a lawyer but..."

"It's all right, Ulima. We'll figure this out. I'll call Tracy and Uncle Tailor right away. What's your daughter's name?"

"Regina Torres."

"And the kids?"

"Savannah, Carlos, Tony and Gabriella."

"All right. I'll call them. Just hold on okay? It'll be all right. I promise."

"Thank you. Thank you, please," Ulima set the phone down barely controlling her sobs. Her gaze fell on the cookies waiting to be baked and tears came to her eyes at how quickly the day had changed. How did it come to this? Numbly she stood and carried the tray to the oven. They would want something sweet when they came back home.

Yes. They would be coming back home.