Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Anthea
The weekend sun blazed down, impossibly bright. Perfect weather to keep my promise—I was taking Olei to the park.
The park was full of easy, lazy shapes. Parents chasing kids across the grass, couples sprawled on picnic blankets soaking up the sun. I spread out the checkered cloth, ready to unpack the sandwiches and fruit from my bag.
Olei sat beside me, handing me things with focused concentration, like he was executing some critical mission.
"Mommy, are the strawberries washed?" He held up a container.
"Already washed, baby. Just set them next to me." I put the sandwiches on the blanket.
He did, then looked up. "Mommy, is Daddy coming?"
My heart clenched.
"I invited him," I said honestly. "But Daddy has something very important to handle today."
"Okay." Olei dropped his head, looking a little crushed.
I reached over and ruffled his hair. "Daddy sent bodyguards to protect us. Look, they're right over there."
Olei followed my pointing finger and spotted several men in black suits scattered around us, keeping their distance.
He nodded, but the disappointment was still written all over his face.
This morning, I'd called Silas myself. Asked him to come on the picnic.
I didn't know why I'd done it. Maybe because Olei kept asking about Daddy these past few days.
Maybe because... after all this time together, Silas actually did what he said.
He stopped forcing himself into my space, only calling to discuss Olei.
His messages were short, restrained. Just about Olei.
He was learning to respect my boundaries.
That should've made me happy. But I found myself waiting for his messages. Every time my phone buzzed, my heart skipped.
My phone vibrated. I pulled it from my bag immediately. The screen showed Julian.
"Anthea, where are you right now?" His voice was tight.
"The park," I answered, pushing down the disappointment. "I brought Olei for a picnic. What's wrong?"
"Which park?" He pressed.
I gave him the address.
"I'm coming to see you. There's something I need to tell you." He paused. "About the case. We've made progress."
My heart jumped. "Okay. I'm on the lawn by the lake."
After I hung up, about forty minutes later, Julian appeared in my line of sight. He wore a light blue shirt, polished and refined as always, like some elite magazine model. But his face looked wrong. Dark circles heavy under his eyes, stubble he hadn't bothered to shave.
"Julian." I stood. "Has something happened? Are those people still following you?"
Had Silas not called off his men?
"Anthea." He moved closer, his gaze sweeping to Olei, his expression stiffening for an instant. "Nothing happened. I just didn't sleep well last night. So I'm not in great shape."
I relaxed. Silas had kept his word.
"Olei, this is Julian." I looked at Olei gently. "He had dinner with us last time, remember?"
Olei looked up at Julian, eyes wary. But eventually he nodded and said hello. The greeting came out flat, completely lifeless. Julian's smile turned forced.
I caught the awkward atmosphere and patted Olei's head. "Baby, why don't you go play on that slide over there? Mommy needs to talk to Julian for a minute."
Olei stood reluctantly, glancing back at me several times before heading toward the slide. Two bodyguards immediately followed.
"He doesn't like me much," Julian said with a bitter smile.
"He's just..." I hesitated. "He probably needs more time to get to know you."
Julian went silent, thinking something through.
"How's the case coming?" I asked.
I wasn't dropping the charges. Silas hurt me. This was what he deserved.
Julian's eyes flickered. "Still moving forward. These kinds of cases take time. The evidence chain has to be solid."
"So we're not at trial yet?" I was surprised.
"Right." He answered fast. "Not yet."
I studied his face. Something felt off. His voice was dry, his eyes dodging mine.
"Julian, are you hiding something from me?"
"No." He said immediately. "Just stressed lately. This case is tough."
I wanted to press him, but he suddenly stood. "I need to take this call."
He walked several yards away, turning his back to answer. I watched his shoulders lock up tight.
I looked away, toward Olei playing on the slide. He was talking to another little boy now, finally smiling.
Julian came back, his face even paler than before.
"Something came up. I need to go. We'll talk another time." He rushed the words and turned to leave.
"Julian—" I called after him.
Watching him go, an inexplicable unease crept through me.
"Mommy!" Olei's voice snapped me back.
He ran over, face sweaty but grinning.
"Tired?" I pulled out a tissue to wipe his face.
"Yeah!" He nodded, then sat beside me. "Mommy, did he leave?"
"He?" I raised an eyebrow. "You mean Julian? He just left."
What was going on in this little guy's head? He was usually such a polite kid.
"Good," Olei said quietly.
"Why? Why do you push him away like that?" I couldn't help asking.
Olei pressed his lips together, clearly not wanting to say. But finally, he spoke. "I can tell he likes you, Mommy. He's going to take you away."
I went quiet. I hadn't expected that. Olei had always been insecure. He'd even developed separation anxiety before.
I pulled him into my arms. "Baby, no one can take me away from you. I'm your mommy. Only yours."
Olei buried his head against my shoulder and nuzzled in.
We sat on the lawn talking for a while longer, Olei leaning against me, soaking up the afternoon sun.
Then a sharp crack of gunfire shattered the park's peace.
"Get down! Protect Ms. Carter and Olei!" A bodyguard's shout cut through the chaos.
The park erupted. People screamed and scattered. Some just dropped to the ground and covered their heads. I saw a swarm of armed men in black flooding in from all directions, guns aimed at the bodyguards.
Bullets flew. Sparks exploded.
"Mommy!" Olei clung to me, his small body shaking.
A bodyguard rushed in front of us, shielding us with his body. "Ma'am, go! Get out through the back!"
Another bodyguard covered us as we ran toward the rear of the park.
I scooped up Olei and ran like hell. Gunfire closed in behind us. A bullet grazed my shoulder, slamming into a tree trunk.
"Mommy, are you okay?" Olei looked at my shoulder with red eyes, only calming when he saw no wound.
"I'm fine, baby." I gasped for air but didn't stop. "Don't be scared."
The bodyguard ahead of us grunted and went down.
"No—" I screamed.
The other bodyguard spun and fired back, covering us as we kept running. But there were too many. They came like a flood.
The last bodyguard fell.
A hand grabbed me. A cloth soaked in something sharp and chemical clamped over my mouth and nose.
"Mommy..." Olei's voice faded.
My vision went black.
When I opened my eyes again, my head was thick and heavy. Half-awake, I heard arguing.
"Why the hell did you grab her, too?" A male voice demanded. "We agreed—just the kid."
That voice... Julian?
"Having her makes the leverage better against Silas," an unfamiliar yet familiar voice answered. "Double the chips, right?"
Vanessa? What was she doing here?
My mind slowly cleared. I opened my eyes fully and found myself tied to a chair. Rough rope bit into my wrists. A cloth was stuffed in my mouth.
This was an abandoned factory. Rusted machines scattered everywhere, the air thick with rust and mildew. In the dim light, I saw Julian standing nearby, looking frantic. Vanessa stood beside him.
"Julian?" My voice came out muffled around the gag, but the fury and accusation rang clear enough.
He'd leaked our location.
Julian wouldn't look at me. He dropped his head.
Vanessa noticed I was awake and walked over with a smile, yanking the cloth from my mouth.
"It's you!" I coughed violently, then glared at Julian. "Julian, you told her where we'd be?"
Julian's lips moved. Nothing came out.
"Answer me!" I shouted.
"Anthea, I'm sorry..." His face was ghost-white, his voice hoarse. "I didn't have a choice. She threatened me."
"Threatened you with what?" I stared at this man I'd trusted, unable to understand why he'd betray us to help Vanessa.
Vanessa moved to Julian's side, draping her hand over his shoulder. "Ignore her, darling. Once we deal with Silas, she's yours to do with as you please."
Julian didn't deny it. I stared at him, nausea churning in my stomach.
"Mommy..." Olei's weak voice drifted over.
I whipped my head around and saw Olei tied to another chair about ten feet away. He was awake too, frightened, but biting his lip, trying not to cry.
"Olei!" I thrashed against the ropes. "Baby, don't be scared! Mommy's here!"
"Mommy, I'm not scared," he said stubbornly.
Vanessa walked over to Olei and looked down at him.
"Silas has kept this little brat so well protected all these years." She reached out to touch Olei's face, cruel amusement in her voice. "And now, look where he ended up. In my hands."
"Don't touch him!" I screamed. "Vanessa, leave him alone!"
Olei shrank back, his small body rigid.
"Don't waste time." A man walked in, throwing Vanessa a cold look.
Vanessa withdrew her hand and smiled. "Relax, Tomaso. I know what I'm doing. I already notified Silas. He'll be here soon."
So this was Tomaso Lucese. Silas's sworn enemy. He looked about fifty, thick-faced, eyes sharp with malice.
"Good. That little punk Silas actually slaughtered my headquarters over this woman.
" His voice dripped with insane bloodlust. "Today, I'm making damn sure he doesn't walk out alive.
" He turned to look at me, his mouth twisting into a vicious smile.
"Let's see if Silas will come crawling here to die for you and this little bastard. "
My heart sank to the bottom. This was a trap. Set specifically for Silas.