“Jessi, please,” Luca whispered, his voice cracking.

“We can work this out.

Mom is getting counseling.

I’ll keep her away from Fiona forever, I swear.” And then, when I did not immediately answer, he tried the other approach, the one that revealed him completely.

“Mom’s blood pressure spiked to dangerous levels when the officers served her.

She’s an old woman.

If this goes to a full criminal trial, it will ruin her health.

It will ruin my career.