Eliza got out of bed with some difficulty before waddling to the door on bare feet and opening it slightly.

This time she could clearly make out Romano’s voice.

"I had nothing to do with that story," Romano was protesting. "And I'll be damned if you keep me away from my family like this."

"Eliza doesn't want to see you," Ryan stated firmly, and there was a moment's charged silence.

"Maybe not," Romano conceded quietly. "But that's because she doesn't know everything. I just need to explain ...