CHAPTER 8 #2
As the car pulls away and turns the corner, the house disappears, and with it, the three men who’ve become my entire world. My chest tightens and I bite back a sob, closing my eyes to keep the tears from falling again.
We speed down the highway, Emilio carrying me further away from everything I know, from everything I’ve fought so hard to protect.
The kids’ chatter from the backseat fills the car, but Sasha is the one who keeps them entertained, handing out snacks and fielding their endless questions about planes and adventures.
I should be grateful for her, but all I can focus on is the crushing knot in my chest.
I shift in my seat and automatically check out the surrounding vehicles, and notice two black cars following closely behind us. I catch Emilio’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Emilio,” I say, “do you know there are two cars following us?”
He glances at the side mirror, his hands tightening slightly on the steering wheel. “They’re our men,” he says simply. “To watch over you. Just in case.”
I wipe my cheeks. “Just in case of what? You think someone’s going to ambush us on the way to the airport?”
“It’s a precaution,” he replies. “Orion’s orders.”
Of course, it’s Orion. I sink back into my seat.
Typical . Even when he’s not physically here, he’s pulling the strings, making decisions for me without so much as asking what I want.
I glance out the rear window at the two sleek black cars trailing us at a careful distance.
It feels like overkill, but then again, everything about this situation feels like overkill.
“We’re almost there,” Emilio says as the airport signs flash past.
The car slows as we pull into the busy drop-off area outside JFK airport. Crowds of travelers move in every direction, dragging luggage, clutching tickets, their voices blending into a cacophony that almost overwhelms me.
Emilio parks the car and steps out, coming around to open my door.
I hesitate, gripping the door handle. My body feels frozen, like my mind and heart are at war.
I don’t want to get out. I don’t want to step into that airport, to do something I may regret.
I changed my mind too many times on the way here.
I’m looking back at the kids—at Mila’s wide eyes, at Ava clutching her stuffed fox—and I don’t know if I have a choice.
“Mommy, why are we here?” Maxim asks, his little face scrunched in confusion.
“We’re going on a trip, sweetheart,” I manage, my voice trembling. I step out of the car, my legs unsteady beneath me. Emilio offers a hand but I wave him off. I can do this. I have to do this.
Sasha’s already unloaded the luggage and is expertly opening the double stroller. She glances at me, her expression softening. “It’ll be okay,” she says kindly.
I nod, though I don’t believe her. My hands tremble as I buckle Ava and Grace into the stroller.
Behind me, I catch a glimpse of Martin, one of the men from the trailing cars.
I know who he is before I even see the earpiece or the slight tilt of his head as he murmurs into his cell.
Orion’s right-hand man. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a stoic expression that reminds me too much of Orion.
He lingers at a distance, his eyes scanning the crowd.
I can practically hear Orion’s voice on the other end of the line, asking for updates, demanding to know if I’ve boarded my plane yet.
Sasha takes charge of the older kids and starts ushering them toward the entrance while I hang back. My heart’s pounding. Emilio watches me, waiting for me to say something, to fight back. But I don’t. I can’t. Not with the kids so close, not with Martin and the others watching my every move.
I force myself to follow Sasha, pushing the stroller, my steps slow and heavy.
The crowd presses in around us, a sea of strangers with no idea that my world is crumbling.
As we approach the security checkpoint, I glance back one last time.
Martin stands by a pillar, his cell pressed to his ear, his sharp gaze fixed on me.
He nods once, a subtle acknowledgment that feels like a goodbye.
“Maisy, we need to keep moving,” Sasha says gently, her hand on my arm.
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat as we step through the security and metal detectors. The kids are still chattering, oblivious to the chaos consuming me from the inside.
As we head toward our departure gate, I can’t help but glance over my shoulder again. Martin’s gone. Probably on his way to report back to Orion.
The thought of him sends a fresh wave of anger through me. I know they’re doing this because they love me. Because they’re terrified of losing me. But I hate being forced into running, and all I want is to scream and fight and turn back.
“Mommy, are you okay?” Mila asks, tugging on my sleeve.
I crouch down, brushing her hair back and forcing another smile. “I’m okay, sweetheart. I promise.”
She looks at me for a long moment, then glances behind me, her big eyes widening in surprise. “Auntie Angelina! Auntie Celina!”
I turn. Angelina and Celina are both carrying small bags, grinning from ear to ear, their arms spread open. I suppose they do look like they are ready to spend time with six little devils.
Angelina hugs Mila. “Hi, sweetheart!”
Celina turns to the rest of the children. “Hey guys, I hear we’re going on an adventure!” she says warmly.
“Are you coming with us?” Damien asks, bouncing on his toes, his energy impossible to contain.
“Can we go to the beach? I want to build the biggest sandcastle ever!” Luca chimes in, his imagination already getting ahead of him.
Damien wraps himself around Celina’s leg. “You are coming, aren’t you?”
They all exclaim excitedly as she kneels to their level, her eyes twinkling with affection. “Of course we are! We’re gonna have so much fun!”
Before they take over, I motion for Sasha to take the children away. She manages to unglue Mila from Angelina and huddles the kids close; she’s great at distracting them. I can already see her words lighting up their little faces with excitement.
Celina stands back up and looks at me. Her brow furrows and she crosses her arms. “Maisy, what the hell is going on?” she hisses.
I take a slow breath, forcing the tension from my shoulders. “I need a favor.”
Angelina’s gaze sharpens. “What kind of favor involves six kids and an unplanned flight out of New York?”
I exhale, glancing at the children before meeting my friends’ eyes. “The syndicate’s been hit too many times. You know that. We see each other more at funerals than at parties these days. Orion, Logan, and Kai want the kids out of New York.”
“And you?” Angelina asks, as if she doesn’t know what I’m going to say.
I shake my head. “I’m gonna stay.”
Celina’s jaw tightens. “Then I’m staying too.”
“No,” I cut in, firm. “I need you with them. I trust only you and Angelina for this task.”
Angelina hesitates, glancing at Celina before looking back at me. “You know this is insane, right?”
I nod. “Probably.”
Celina’s lips press into a thin line. “Where are we flying to?”
“Chicago,” I explain, gesturing to Sasha. “She’ll be coming with you, too. There’ll be a cab waiting there to take you somewhere safe.”
Angelina shakes her head. “What are you going to do, Maisy?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Whatever I have to.”
She studies me for a moment. “And you want us to just take them and pretend this is fine?”
“No,” I say quietly. “I want you to help me. And I’ll meet you there in a week. Tops.”
Angelina exhales, twisting the ring on her finger.
“What did you tell your husband?” I ask her.
“Nothing yet.” She sighs. “But I’m gonna have to tell him I’m in Chicago.”
“Sure. But no one else.” I must keep all this under control.
“Don’t worry, no one will find out,” Celina promises.
My children, oblivious to the tension, chatter amongst themselves. Grace and Ava are dozing off in the stroller. I kneel, pulling them close, pressing kisses into their hair and inhaling the scent of them, willing myself to be strong.
“You’ll go with your aunties and Sasha, and I’ll get to you as soon as I can,” I say, kissing their foreheads. “You’ll have so much fun, and when I come, you’ll tell me all about it, okay?”
Maxim grins. “Can we go to Disneyland?”
Angelina laughs softly, ruffling his hair. “Absolutely. We’ll take you to Disneyland, eat too much cotton candy, and make sure you have the best time.”
Their excitement makes my chest constrict, the sharp sting of guilt settling deep. I should be going with them. I should be making them safe myself.
I squeeze their hands, kiss their heads one last time, and stand. “Go,” I tell Angelina and Celina. “And keep them safe.”
Angelina nods, giving me one final, meaningful look before guiding the children toward security. I stand there and wave, exchanging nods with Sasha as well. As I watch them disappear into the crowd, I feel something inside me splinter.
I put on a cap that I shoved into my purse as I was leaving, and turn on my heel, slipping out through the airport unnoticed. My hand reaches for my cell, and I dial Georgina’s number. “I need a place to stay. Somewhere no one will find me.”
She gives me an address without asking any questions, and I quickly make a note of it before I switch it off and hail a cab.