"We'll discuss this later." Joseph's eyes locked onto Elliot in the passenger seat. It was wrong to hash out grown-up matters in front of a child—his fault for losing control.
"I want Tracy by my side. Every. Single. Day." Elliot's voice cut through the air like a judge's gavel, his words so commanding that both Joseph and Gordon stiffened in their seats. The boy's tone carried a weight far beyond his years, an unshakable finality ringing through: "This isn't a negotiation. If I don't see Tracy by today's end, you can forget I'm ever a Hayworth."
With that, Elliot crossed his arms, utterly unfazed by the heavy silence pressing down on them. Joseph's lips pressed into a thin line, his expression shifting into something grave—reassessing this child who'd just upended his expectations.
Gor
