Dangerous ex-wife
I threw on the first thing my hands reached for in Celine's closet.
A pair of black jeans and a white knitted sweater that I did not remember giving her as a gift.
It was chilly out, a little windy, it had even rained a few days ago.
It was one of those few days in a year when California pretended to have seasons.
"You're shaking Christine," Celie said as I walked through the bedroom door, "Jesus calm down she's not going to hurt them."
I wanted to tell her that it was the second time she attempted to take the kids, "Just go get dressed,"
While Celine threw on some clothes, I made the order for the uber to take us to Lucas's parent's mansion. It was quite a journey, completely out of town and maybe it would take a few hours. Maybe before we arrived she would have taken the kids and run off to God knows where.
The thought made my legs jittery with anxiety and I held on to the table to keep myself from buckling over my knees.
Celine had offered to call Alexander to come over, and pick us up but the 30 minutes he would take to reach us, was too much time for me. More time than I really honestly had.
"Maybe we should just get a cab instead," I said, tapping my foot and drumming my fingers impatiently.
She was saying something about Cabs not being willing to go that far tonight when an urgent knock on the door drew my attention. There were many security issues on this side of town after all I had been assaulted in my own home in the dead of night with no one—not even the cops—to save me once.
The knock was loud enough to have Chris dashing from her room, one leg in her jean pair, and the other struggling to go in too.
"Did you call Alex?"
"Nope." she looked just as rattled me, then she yelled in her most frightening voice, "who is it?"
The voice that sounded from the other side of the door, made me feel lightheaded for a second, before sending relief flooding through me, "I know she's in there," Lucas said banging harder, "and I will not fuckin leave until I see her."
"It's your psycho boyfriend." Celine turned to me, anger written on her face.
"He's not psycho, get dressed." she gave me a disapproving look as I stalked over to the door. If Lucas was here right now, he clearly did not know the kids were in danger. I pulled the front door open, trying to keep a straight face and not launch in his arms at the sight of Lucas.
His stubble had doubled, hair tousled and tiredness was written all over him, yet he would still pass off for sexiest man alive.
"Chris...."
I held a hand up before he could reach for me, "The kids are in danger,"
He froze, "what do you mean?'
"I mean Sarah's at your parent's and we were just on our way there." I sucked in a sharp breath, "she's trying to take the kids, Lucas."
"Why did no one call me, I was just with Mia about an hour ago," he dug his hand into his pocket and retrieved his phone. "Fuck," he cursed as he saw his phone. "Mia called a few times, Rob too, shit and mom."
Chris appeared behind me "are we going to get the kids or are we waiting for Christmas?"
"Give me a minute," he raked his hands through his hair and placed his phone next to his ear. "Get the chopper ready, we're going to the estate."
A few minute's drive brought us to the private airstrip where Lucas's helicopter was waiting for us. I knew he had one, he used it on a trip the day I had my first interview and I could not be more thankful for it right now.
"They'll be fine," Lucas said rubbing my knees as we approached the airstrip. I had resorted to bouncing my knees, chewing my fingernails, tapping my fingers just to get through the drive. None of it was working.
I had offered to seat in the back where Celine now occupied, but according to her, it was dangerous to put her in a space where she could easily reach his face. "For his sake."
"Have you tried calling Mia again?" I asked, bringing my nails to my teeth again.
Lucas held my hand back, I would probably chew my fingers off if given the chance at this moment. "she's going over with Rob and Lil, they're almost there,"
"How are you so calm right now?" I was about to explode with worry.
"I am worried, but it's more worry for Sarah than for the twins." he actually fucking chuckled, "apart from the fact that my dad is trained in martial arts, have you met my mom when her family is threatened?"
"And what if she's armed..." I gasped, "what if she's not alone. Oh, God!"
"Worrying is not going to do anything Muffin," I frowned at the pet name.
"I didn't say you could call me that," I pushed his hands off my knee too, "and I did not say you could touch me either."
Hurt and disappointment colored his expression, and I looked out the window to hold back from sobbing, or taking back my words.
"I'm sorry Chris... I um...I just got caught up in the moment. I'm sorry."
I refused to look at him, even though I could feel his gaze burning into me, "just drive."
The three-hour drive was cut short by 2 hours as we landed in the large airfield at Lucas's parent's estate.
Lucas took my hand, keeping me from tripping as we jumped down the chopper.
I felt relieved to finally be away from the whirring sound from the helicopter blades.
If my mind was not working at a million miles an hour, I would have cared to take in the nighttime glow of the city from above.
A Lucas extended an arm to Celine—one she took in total spite—I whipped around, willing myself not to race as I made my way to the doors.
"Chris," someone called behind me, asking me to wait up, but I could not, not u until I could see for myself that they were fine, that she had not stolen them from me. From us.
Staffs bowed their heads in a greeting as I breezed past them, pushing the front door open. The house was quiet as I walked into the foyer. That could mean anything.
I gasped in shock as I saw Calvin, one leg crossed over the other on the plush couch in the living room and eyes focused on the newspaper in his hand. Okay if Lucas's dad was calm enough to be reading a newspaper right now, maybe all was still well.
Martha stood with her back to us, peering through the floor-to-ceiling window, and turned back as Calvin acknowledged my presence. "You're here!" he smiled, revealing the wrinkles on his face.
"Where are the kids?" I asked, skipping past any formalities.
"Christine," Martha whipped around, her eyes were tear-filled. She reached out to me and hugged me, "I'm so glad you came."
"Please tell me where the kids...."
"Chris!" Aiden squealed happily and I took a minute to release a deep sigh before I felt two small arms wrapping around my legs. Abby's cries came next, and that was all I needed to hear to get the tears streaming.
Martha raised a brow, and I mouthed, "happy tears," I wiped my cheeks, turned around, my face lit up as I saw the smiles on their faces. For now, I did not want to know how, but they were safe, that was all that mattered right now.
I was on my knees the next second, crouching low so I can give them the warmest embrace.
"Chris we were so scared," Abby said in a shaky voice.
"The scary woman came and she took me, but Grammy got me back," Aiden said with a happy smile.
"Oh you poor things," I released them, examining their bodies, "were you hurt? Did she hurt you?"
"No," they shrugged together, Abby doing her usual exaggerated shoulder roll that made me chuckle.
"Chris you're crying and laughing," Aiden looked confused and I quickly wiped the tears.
"It's just because I'm so happy to see you both."
"Where's daddy?" Abby questioned.
"Right here," Lucas spoke from behind us. I had not noticed he and Celine were here yet.
"Daddy!" they were racing to him in seconds, each struggling to jump into his waiting arms first.
"There's always room for my two angels," he said, grunting as he lifted them in both arms and planted lingering kisses all over their bodies.
"Daddy, there was a woman here and she tried to take Aiden from Grammy, but Grammy and pop pop didn't let her" Abby rattled off after the peals of giggles and squeals from Lucas kissing them.
She always rattled off her day whenever her dad came home, this time though her eyes were wide in both confusion and fear.
I hated Sarah even more for scaring the kids the way she had today, ".
..and then pop pop touched her neck and she died,"
Gasps filled the air and all heads swiveled to Calvin who was nonplussed about his grandaughter's sudden words. Martha looked rather amused and Lucas was working to keep his face straight.
"No she didn't," Aiden said with a frown. "she was sleeping, Grammy said she'll wake up when Daddy comes over."
"Daddy please can you take her far away, I don't like her. She was really mean." Abby said in a small voice.
Lucas's jaw ticked as he saw the fear in his daughter's eyes. "I'm so sorry you both had to go through that." he looked between them, frowning, "did she hurt you?"
"No, but she pushed Grammy," Aiden answered, and Lucas looked at his mom with apologetic eyes.
"She's so mean," said Abby.
A weird beat of silence followed, and I could tell everyone was trying to chew on their thoughts, Lucas though had his fists clenched and I had to remind him subtly that the kids were still here. They had gone through enough for one lifetime, there was no need to add to their terror.
"Hey you two," C finally said, breaking the silence, she approached the kids tucked in Lucas's arms in careful steps and with a small smile that helped to tell them she was not the enemy. "would you like to go and have some ice cream?"
Thankfully, their faces lit up at Celine's offer, I was glad that Celine already had a small relationship with them before, so they knew she was no stranger. "Daddy please can we have some ice cream with C?"
"Of course princess,"
I shot Celine a grateful smile as she walked to the kitchen with the kids, following the lead of the maids for directions. Their absence would provide the distraction needed to figure things out.
"Do you see that?" Martha yelled the moment they were out of earshot. "Do you see how terrified they look?" her question and anger were directed solely at Lucas.
He sighed and raked his hand through his hair, waiting for his mother to finish speaking before he did.
"That bitch had the damn nerves to walk in here and try to take them away because you could not end things with her when the time was right!" I could tell Martha was only speaking out of her frustration, but that did not stop the hurt that flashed in his eyes at her words.
"Martha relax," Calvin said sternly.
"Relax? I'll relax when I know that bitch is too busy rotting in jail to come after my grandkids again." she threw her hands in the air, "she should be thanking her damn stars Calvin was here tonight because fuck..."
"Mom, please calm down, you have been stressed out enough for one day." Lucas pleaded attempting to step closer to her.
"I will be the judge of that!"
"She has not committed enough crimes to go to jail."
"So you want to wait until she does?" she wagged a warning finger as she spoke, "That woman is a psychopath and it would be in everyone's best interest that you do something about that woman Lucas, or I fucking will."
Mia and the others walked in as Martha stormed out.
Lilian and Mia looked like me on the way here, worried and terrified and probably on the verge of tears, but Robin had the same seemingly unbothered look Lucas had too.
Lilian handed a sleeping Zoey over to one of the maids that appeared to take their jackets and before they could ask any questions, Lucas pointed in the direction of the kitchen.
I was tempted to go and join the others, but I ached to know what would happen with Sarah after this. So I sat in the corner of the room, by the fireplace watching them talk.
"Where's she?" Robin who had not gone with them to check on the kids asked.
"Unconscious, strapped to a chair," Calvin answered calmly.
"Why is she unconscious?" Lucas asked.
"You could have just called the cops."
"Shit was getting too violent, one of my staff had a four-inch heel thrown at her in the struggle to stop her from leaving with Aiden. I had to knock her out."
"You used your skills on an unarmed woman?!" Robin raked his hand through his hair.
"A shoe capable of making someone bleed is not considered enough ammunition?" Calvin raised a brow, "also, I was having a peaceful evening with my grandkids watching baby shark on my phone, she decided to come in here and make a ruckus, so I am well in my own rights."
"What's going to happen with her now?" I asked finally, surprising them. They seemed to not know I was still here.
"First I'm calling the cops," he dug his hands in his pocket for his phone, "then my attorney."
"Attorney?!"
"If Sarah is going to these lengths then I need to protect my kids and my family...and you too Chris. I'm getting a restraining order."