Chapter 12
The drive back from the island was quiet. The engine's hum was the only sound. Sophia slumped against my shoulder. Her small chest rose and fell with sleep. Her curls tickled my arm.
Alexander gripped the wheel. His knuckles were pale. His face was like stone. Unreadable. Victoria sat in the passenger seat. Her nails tapped her phone. Her disinterest was clear. Like the salt still on our skin.
We rolled into the penthouse garage. City lights gleamed off the black Bentley. Like a warning. Stepping into the marble and glass. It felt both solid and stifling. The tall windows. The simple furniture. The faint smell of cedar polish. All whispered "home." But with an edge I could not shake.
Sophia stirred as the elevator doors opened. She rubbed her eyes with tiny fists. "Are we home?" she mumbled. Her voice was thick with sleep.
"Yes, sweetheart," I said. I brushed a curl from her forehead. "We are home."
***
The next morning, Sophia was full of energy.
She twirled through her room. In her crisp school uniform.
A navy blazer and pleated skirt. It made her look very grown-up.
"I get to see my friends today!" she chirped.
She spun. Until her socks slipped on the wood floor.
"I am going to tell them all about the island. The waves. The shells. Everything!"
I smiled. I knelt to help her. Stuff her glittery pencil case into her backpack. "They are going to love it. You tell stories well." Her excitement was catchy. A bright spot against my unease.
Downstairs, Alexander waited in the foyer. His broad body filled the space. With quiet power. He was perfect as always.
Tailored suit. Polished shoes. His dark hair swept back. But the stern lines of his face softened. As Sophia ran toward him. "Ready for school, Soph?" he asked. His voice dipped. It was rare and gentle.
She nodded. She flung her arms around his legs. "Bye, Daddy! Have a good day!"
He hugged her back. A flicker of warmth showed. Through his guarded outside. His hands stayed on her shoulders. A moment longer than usual.
As I led her out the door, I saw the tension in him. The way his gaze followed us. Sharp and searching. Like a hawk guarding its nest.
?????
At the school, Sophia was surrounded. By a wave of squealing friends. Her voice rose above the chatter. As she began a dramatic telling. Of our island trip. With big arm movements. And tales of "giant" crabs.
I stayed near the drop-off. Leaning against a lamppost. My lips curved into a smile. For a short second, it felt normal. Even ordinary. Like we were just another family. Not burdened by secrets or shadows.
But then I saw him. Across the street. Near the iron gates. A man stood out. Like a stain on a clean cloth. Dark suit. Mirrored sunglasses. Hands clasped behind his back.
Too still. Too deliberate. Amidst the chaos of parents and kids. My breath caught. Recognition hit me. The same man from the beach.
The one whose stare pierced the island's peace. My stomach dropped. A cold sweat pricked my skin. Was he following me? Or worse. Was he here for Sophia?
I turned away. Forcing my legs to move faster. My heart pounded in my ears. The walk back to the penthouse blurred. Horns blared. People brushed past. Every shadow turned into a threat. By the time I stepped into the lobby. My chest was tight. My fingers trembled. As I jabbed the elevator button.
?????
Inside the penthouse, the air was thick. With the low, sharp sound of Alexander's voice. It came from his office. I crept toward the door. My sandals silent on the marble. I meant to knock. But my name stopped me cold.
"Elena does not understand the risks," he was saying. His tone was rough with frustration. "She thinks this is some game. A small trip gone wrong. But if anything happens to her. Or to Sophia. I will not-" His voice broke. Raw and open. A crack in the armor I rarely saw.
I froze. My breath was shallow. Guilt and curiosity fought inside me. He cared more than I had let myself believe.
Before I could move back. Or announce myself. The door swung open. Alexander filled the doorway. His presence was huge. His eyes. Storm-gray and sharp. Narrowed. They locked onto me.
"How much of that did you hear?" His voice was a low growl. Full of blame.
I swallowed. I lifted my chin. Despite the heat rising on my neck. "Enough to know you are keeping things from me. Again."
He sighed. He ran a hand through his hair. The action showed his composure fraying. "Elena, it is not that simple. There are things you do not understand. Things I cannot explain."
"Then try," I shot back. My voice was steady. Despite the tremor in my hands. "I deserve that much."
For a moment, he looked ready to argue. His jaw tightened. But then his shoulders drooped. A rare surrender. "You are right. But not here. Not now."
I nodded. I felt the wall still standing between us. But it was a crack. An opening. "Okay. But do not shut me out, Alexander. Please."
His gaze held mine. Unreadable. Yet heavy with something unsaid. "I will try," he said finally. The words were clipped. But carried meaning.
***
That evening, Sophia burst through the door. Her cheeks were flushed pink. Her eyes blazed with excitement. "Elena, guess what?" she shrieked. She dropped her backpack with a thud. "We are doing a school play. And I am the princess! I get a crown and everything!"
I laughed. I pushed my worries aside. I scooped her into a hug. "That is amazing, sweetheart! We will start practicing tonight. Lines. Bows. Everything."
She talked nonstop. About the glittery costume. The "mean dragon" her friend Max would play. The stage lights. That made her feel like a star.