Chapter 24
AURELIA
Expensive cars line the circular driveway when we pull up to the school. Parents in workout clothes walk their children to the entrance. Kids in matching uniforms drag their feet, complaining about spelling tests and homework. Normal morning chaos.
Our driver stops at the curb. Behind us, the security vehicle pulls in close, and two men get out to take position near our car.
I’m in the front seat. Nadia is in the back with Finn and Liam, who are still arguing about who gets to be the team captain at recess.
“Come on, boys,” Nadia says, opening her door. “Let’s go.”
They climb out, backpacks on, still bickering.
I watch from the front seat as Nadia takes each of their hands and starts walking toward the entrance.
Then I see the first SUV. It pulls into the driveway fast, too fast, and stops directly in front of our security vehicle. Blocks it completely.
My stomach drops.
“Drive,” I tell our driver. “Get me out there now.”
He’s already moving, pulling forward, but there are other cars in the way.
A second SUV pulls up beside Nadia and the boys.
Doors open. Men pour out.
“No!” I’m out of the car before it fully stops, running toward them.
Everything happens in seconds.
Two men go for the twins. One grabs Finn, lifts him off the ground. The other reaches for Liam. Both boys start screaming.
Nadia lunges for them, shouting, but another man blocks her, shoves her back.
Our security moves. The two men who were standing by our car sprint toward the SUV. More security comes from the vehicles behind us. Gunfire cracks through the air. Parents scream. Children cry. Teachers appear at the entrance, trying to pull students inside.
I’m running.
One of Cassian’s men goes down, blood spreading across his shoulder. The other one drops Liam and pulls a weapon. Finn is still in someone’s arms, being dragged toward the SUV. He’s kicking and screaming, reaching for Nadia.
Then three of our security personnel tackle the man, holding him. Finn falls and hits the pavement hard. I reach him first. Drop to my knees and pull him into my arms. He’s sobbing, face red, a scrape on his elbow from where he fell.
Liam runs to us. I grab him too, pressing both boys against my chest. “I’ve got you,” I say into their hair. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
More gunfire. Cassian’s team is retreating. Our security has them outnumbered. Parents are running, dragging their children away from the chaos. Someone’s calling the police.
I look up.
Cassian is standing beside the second SUV, fifty feet away. Our eyes meet across the driveway.
He’s watching us. Watching me hold our sons while they sob into my shoulders.
For three seconds, nobody moves.
Then Declan shouts something and pulls Cassian toward the vehicle.
They’re gone before I can breathe.
Nadia reaches us, drops down beside me. “Are you hurt? Are the boys hurt?”
“No. We’re okay.”
“Are you sure?”
I check them both quickly. Finn has a scrape on his elbow. Liam is shaking but otherwise fine.
“We’re okay,” I say again.
Julian is there suddenly, breathing hard, gun in his hand. “Get them inside. Now.”
Nadia helps me up. We move toward the entrance, security forming a wall around us.
The boys won’t let go of me. Finn has his face buried against my neck, still crying. Liam is holding on to my shirt so tight his knuckles are white.
We get inside the building. Teachers are trying to calm down the other children. Parents are demanding answers. Someone says the police are on their way.
Julian pulls me into an empty classroom and closes the door. “We’re leaving. Back entrance. Before the police get here.”
“What about—”
“I’ll handle the school. Money will keep them quiet. But we need to go now.”
Nadia appears in the doorway. “Cars are ready.”
We move through the school halls, past classrooms where children are pressed against windows watching. Past teachers who look terrified. Past the principal who tries to stop us, but Julian waves him off.
The back entrance opens into a service alley where three vehicles wait, engines running.
We get the boys into the middle car. I sit between them, holding both their hands. Julian sits up front. Nadia is in the third vehicle with additional security.
We pull away just as police sirens wail in the distance.
Finn sniffles occasionally but stays quiet. Liam stares at nothing. I look down at him. His face is pale, eyes too wide.
“Liam, baby. Are you okay?”
He doesn’t answer, just sniffles.
We get back to the estate, the boys go with Nadia, and Julian takes me straight to his study. The moment the door closes, he turns on me. “This is out of control.”
“I know.”
“He came after them in public. In front of witnesses. Started a gunfight at their school.”
“I know.”
“People could have died, Aurelia. Children could have died.”
“But they didn’t.”
“This time. What about next time?”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Give him access. Supervised visits. Let him see them before he burns down half the city trying to take them.”
“He just tried to kidnap them, and you want me to reward him?”
“I want you to be smart. He’s their father. He’s not going away. And every day you keep them from him, he gets more desperate.” Julian crosses his arms. “I’m arranging a meeting. Tomorrow. We’re setting terms whether you like it or not.”
“I should have a say—”
“You had five years to figure this out, and you didn’t. Now I’m fixing it before he kills someone.”
“Julian—”
“Tomorrow. Two p.m. We’re ending this.” He walks out.
I stand there alone in his study, hands shaking, and pull out my phone.
A text from Cassian is already waiting: I’m sorry they were scared. But I meant what I said. I will see my sons.