Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Francesca Rose
My stomach is in knots as I sit on the edge of the bed staring at the clock on my nightstand.
Tonight we make our move. From somewhere deep within, I’ve finally found the courage to leave the Rose compound with Kennedy and Nathan, never to return.
Kennedy turns eight in two weeks, so it’s a now-or-never situation we’ve found ourselves in.
Financially, Michael and I could’ve made this move before now, but mentally I wasn’t ready for the danger this decision brings.
We’ve prepped as much as we can in hopes that we could get the children out safely and start our new lives.
It’s a little after eleven when the soft knock sounds on my bedroom door.
I quickly move across the plush carpet to let Michael in.
He stands in front of me dressed in all black, prepped to move through the shadows.
I’ve put all my trust in him to remove us from this life riddled with uncertainty.
As soon as Ashton made plans to leave the state, we knew this was our chance to make our move.
It isn’t abnormal for the guards who report to Michael to be on shift at night, and he’s made sure the plan was solid.
The only thing left is to get the kids through the front door and off the property.
Staying hidden from Ashton will be a lot easier once we’re past the front gates.
“The shift change has happened. My men are in place, let’s move.” The orders fall from him like a soldier leading his men into battle.
My palms are sweaty as I move to the back of my walk-in closet, grabbing the two suitcases that I’ve prepared.
Enough clothes to last Kennedy, Nathan and I until we figure out where we will land long term.
My heart races as my hand grips the handles, holding on to the little bit of our life that’s coming with us.
No material item is worth the freedom we could give these babies if we can pull this off.
I wish Kathy would’ve agreed to come with us, but she fussed that she was too old to be on the run.
My only prayer is that she isn’t punished once we’re gone.
“Here are the suitcases. I will get Kennedy and Nathan,” I say.
My voice is shaky and I know I need to settle my nerves before I leave this room.
Fear leaves room for error and I have two kids that are depending on me.
Michael stops at the door, his shoulders sag as he turns and for a moment the bodyguard mask drops.
In front of me stands the charming man that gave me the little piece of joy to hold onto in this life I didn’t want.
He moves back to me, pulling me into his embrace before kissing me deeply.
My body relaxes into him, pulling from his strength to get me through this.
We both realize this may be the last true moment of peace for a while.
My hand caresses his jawline, thinking back on our first meeting, and the gratitude I have for him.
I will finally be able to comfortably reveal the secret that I’ve kept from him for the last eight years. Kennedy is his daughter.
He places a kiss on my forehead. “Get the kids. As soon as I throw the bags in the car, I will double back in to meet up with you.”
With one last kiss, he turns to leave. I glance back once at the bedroom that’s been my solace for the last ten years.
I wait to feel any other emotion that could warn me not to go through with this, but it doesn’t come.
I follow Michael through the bedroom door and don’t look back.
Kennedy, Nathan and I have this entire wing of the house to ourselves, with Michael being the only guard to check in on us.
I move down the hall with confidence I didn’t possess moments ago but can now feel building. I can do this.
Kennedy’s door is ajar just as I left it, allowing a bit of the hallway light to filter through.
She’s still in the phase of being afraid of the dark, so no matter how many nightlights I offer that door remains cracked.
I push the door open, aware of the creak and moan to come from the door jamb, but strangely enough I’m met with silence.
The hair on the back of my neck rises, but I don’t linger, pushing through the feeling of unease sliding over me, and enter Kennedy’s room.
The light from the hall spills across the room.
In the rocking chair across from Kennedy’s bed sits Ashton Rose, gun in his lap and death in his eyes.
I immediately freeze in place as my stomach drops, threatening to upend its contents.
My eyes flicker toward the bed and see that Kennedy isn’t there and shock transforms into fear.
He studies me, taking in my attire, as I try quickly to keep the shock off my face.
How is he here? He was supposed to leave on a business trip earlier in the day. Where is my daughter?
“You’re not dressed for bed. Got somewhere you need to be?” Ashton asks calmly.
The calm facade is simply that. A facade.
I’ve learned from my time with this man that if he isn’t showing his anger that’s when you should be worried.
My hands shake and shoulders tighten as I fight the instinct to remain rooted to this spot.
If he can see my fear, he will exploit it and this situation will only get worse.
“I was coming in to check on Kennedy before getting ready for bed. Where is she?” I commend myself for keeping the fear from my voice.
He shrugs nonchalantly. “That’s not for you to worry about, now.”
Ashton rises from the chair, advancing towards me, but I move back, keeping the distance between us. If he wants me dead, he’ll have to shoot me. He stalks towards me, forcing me back into the hallway, my gaze never leaving his murderous mien.
“Francesca, I knew you would be an issue for me the moment your father willingly handed you over to us. For a fleeting second, I believed you were properly broken in, but that lack of a kiss showed me your defiance lay right beneath the surface.” He sneers at me. “Where is he?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.
” I pray that Michael hears what’s going on up here and gets the hell out of dodge.
There’s no reason that we should both go down.
I had already resigned myself to this fate.
There was always a chance that Ashton would dispose of me once Kennedy was of age and our hospital room bargain was fulfilled.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out you were fucking someone on my payroll?
” If looks could kill I would be dead on the spot.
“We made a deal, Francesca. In that hospital room, we decided that when she turned eight, she was mine to train how I pleased. You knew the day would come and yet here you are trying to take her away from me.”
“Just let me take Kennedy and we will leave. No one has to know anything,” I plead softly, hoping that this man finds an ounce of humanity somewhere within.
He raises his gun, pointing it towards me with hatred in his eyes.
“Kennedy is staying right where she is,” he declares with finality.
“What’s going on?”
Michael's deep voice breaks through the conversation. I look back to see him coming up the stairs, gun drawn and taking in the situation. Ashton doesn’t pay him any attention, keeping his focus on me.
“What’s going on is I’m contemplating whether to kill you both where you stand for your betrayal or make you pay in a much worse way,” Ashton sneers.
“Ashton, where's Kennedy?” I plead.
“My daughter is exactly where she needs to be. You both need to leave.” He cocks the gun trained on me. “Or I’ll end you here.”
I flinch as Michael’s hand wraps around my arm, tugging me back towards the steps. He hasn’t lowered his gun and it’s probably the only reason shots haven’t fired. I’m unable to stop my feet from digging into the carpet, trying to prevent my leaving without Kennedy.
“No! No! I can’t leave her here. Kennedy!” I scream out her name, hoping that she can hear me.
Ashton lowers his gun and the grin that takes over his face is one that I know won’t leave me anytime soon.
“You can and you will. As my only heir, it’s my responsibility to train her for the Rose legacy. You’ve both softened my successor, and now you get to watch me cut the weakness out of her.”
“Bullshit!” I scream and lunge at him, ready to let the secrets we’ve been holding fly free.
“Franny, let’s go,” Michael demands, moving quickly, banding an arm around my waist and pulling me down the stairs as I fight him the entire way.
“Ashton, don't do this! Give me my baby!” I plead.
The bastard just stands at the top of the stairs, looking down at us with sick satisfaction at the pain he is inflicting. Here lies the worst part about Ashton: the mind games he loves to play with his victims.
“If either of you come for Kennedy, I will make you watch as I kill her and then put both of you in the dirt where you belong. You will regret the day you crossed me,” Ashton delivers cooly.
I scream at the top of my lungs in rage.
Our entire marriage I fought so hard to not allow this man to break me.
The pain in my chest is my heart breaking in two as I’m ripped away from my baby girl.
Michael is doing everything he can to try to calm me while dragging me out of the house to the car that was supposed to be our getaway.
I break loose for a moment and make a break for the stairs, and Ashton fires off two warning shots at my feet.
One grazes my foot, but I don’t feel the pain as Michael lifts me from the ground and carries me to the car. I will never come back from this.