ALEXANDER
From the moment Dominic told me to take the kids away, I knew one thing for certain—Raina was going to need me. Whether she realized it or not, whether she liked it or not, I would be there for her.
As I packed a small bag for Ava and grabbed Liam’s essentials, a wave of doubt hit me. Part of me wanted to keep them close, maybe take Ava to where Liam was already staying. But Nathan was unpredictable and dangerous. Keeping them in the city, even temporarily, was too great a risk.
I grabbed my phone and called one of my most trusted contacts, someone who specialized in discreet transportation and keeping things under wraps.
“I need a plane,” I said, pacing the living room as Ava watched me with wide, questioning eyes.
“Destination?” my contact asked.
“Somewhere off the grid. I’ll send you the details in an encrypted message.”
It took less than an hour to finalize the arrangements. As I buckled the kids into the backseat of my car, Ava finally spoke up, her voice trembling slightly.
“Daddy, where are we going?”
Her question made me pause. How much should I tell her? “Somewhere safe,” I said, keeping my tone light.
She tilted her head, studying me with those sharp, curious eyes that reminded me so much of Raina. “Why isn’t Mommy coming with us?”
Liam, clutching his favorite stuffed dinosaur, looked up at me, his lips quivering. “Is Mommy okay?”
I crouched beside them, resting a hand on each of their little shoulders. “Mommy’s fine,” I assured them. “She has some things to take care of, but I’ll bring her to you as soon as I can. I promise.”
Ava’s frown deepened. “You’re not lying, right?”
“No, sweetheart,” I said firmly, holding her gaze. “I would never lie to you about something this important.”
Satisfied, she nodded, though her lips pressed into a thin line.
When we arrived at the airport, everything was set. I made sure the flight’s details were wiped clean from the system, erasing any trace of our departure. Nathan was cunning, but I wasn’t about to make it easy for him.
I bolted from the car without a second thought, my heart pounding in my chest. “Get your hands off her!” I barked as I closed the distance between us.
Nathan turned, his expression darkening, but he didn’t release her.
I didn’t wait for him to comply. My hand shot out, pushing him back with enough force to make him stumble slightly. Raina flinched, her gaze darting between us. “Are you okay?” I asked her, my voice softening as I turned to her.
She nodded, her lips trembling as she whispered, “I’m fine.”
“Go inside,” I told her firmly. “I’ll handle this.”
Her hesitation was brief, but it was there. Her eyes flickered to Nathan, then back to me, before she finally turned and walked toward the house.
As she moved away, Nathan tried to follow, but I stepped into his path, blocking him. “Back off,” I growled. “The woman is grieving. Leave her alone.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then something flickered—recognition, perhaps? But just as quickly as it appeared, he masked it with a smirk. “Grieving?” he echoed, his tone mockingly curious. “And what exactly is she grieving, Alexander?”
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