Chapter 125
ALEXANDER
Fro the moment Dominic told me to take the kids away, I knew one thing for certain–Raina was going to need me. Whether she realized it whether she liked it or not, I would be there for her.
not,
Ava and grabbed Liam’s essentials, a wave of doubt hit me. Part of me wanted to keep them close, maybe take Ava to where As I packed a small bag Liam was already staying. But Nathan was unpredictable and dangerous. Keeping them in the city, even temporarily, was too great a risk.
I grabbed i
my phone and called one of my most trusted contacts, someone who spécialized in discreet tration and keeping things under wraps.
plane,” I said, pacing the living room as Ava watched me with wide, questioning eyes.
“Destination?”
my contact asked.
“Somewhere off the grid. I’ll send you the details in an encrypted message.”
It took less than an hour to finalize the arrangements. As I buckled the kids into the backseat of my car, Ava finally spoke up, her voice trembling slightly.
“Daddy, where are we going?”
Her question made me pause. How much should I tell her? “Somewhere safe,” I said, keeping my tone light.
She tilted her head, studying me with those sharp, curious eyes that reminded me so much of Raina. “Why isn’t Mommy coming with us?”
Liam, clutching his favorite stuffed dinosaur, looked up at me, his lips quivering. “Is Mommy okay?”
I crouched beside them, resting a hand on each of their little shoulders. “Mommy’s fine,” I assured them. “She has some things to take care of, but I’ll bring her to you as soon as I can. I promise.”
Ava’s frown deepened. “You’re not lying, right?”
“No, sweetheart,” I said firmly, holding her gaze. “I would never lie to you about something this important.”
Satisfied, she nodded, though her lips pressed into a thin line.
When we arrived at the airport, everything was set. I made sure the flight’s details were wiped clean from the system, erasing any trace of our departure. Nathan was cunning, but I wasn’t about to make it easy for him.
On the plane, the kids huddled together in their seats, their small faces filled with confusion and a touch of fear. I leaned over to Ava, lowering my voice. “I know this is scary, but I’m here, okay? I won’t let anything happen to you or Liam.”
She nodded, her tiny fingers gripping mine tightly.
Once we landed, I drove them to a secure house in a quiet, secluded area far from Nathan’s reach. The property was guarded, with layers of security that would keep them safe no matter what. My contact treated this like a witness protection scenario, ensuring every precaution was in place.
As I settled them into the house, Ava turned to me, her expression solemn. “When will we see Mommy?”
I crouched down again, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “Soon,” I promised. “I just need to make sure everything is okay first.”
Inwardly, I prayed Raina would agree to this plan, even if she was furious about it at first. Keeping the kids safe was all that mattered.
With everything set, I called Raina. The pain in her voice when she told me her grandfather was gone hit me hard. The Grahams were in turmoil, and I knew things were about to get even worse. Chaos was coming.
“I’m sorry.” I said softly before the call ended.
I wasted no time rushing back to the city. My priority was clear: Raina needed someone to lean on, and I’d make damn sure I was that person.
When I arrived at the Graham mansion, the first thing I noticed was Raina. She stood outside, facing Nathan, her posture rigid and her face pale. Even from a distance, I could see the exhaustion etched into her features, the fear lingering in her eyes. Nathan stood too close to her, one hand gripping her
arm.
I bolted from the car without a second thought, my heart pounding in my chest. “Get your hands off her!” I barked as I closed the distance between us.
Nathan turned, his expression darkening, but he didn’t release her.
I didn’t wait for him to comply. My hand shot out, pushing him back with enough force to make him stumble slightly. Raina flinched, her gaze darting between us. “Are you okay?” I asked her, my voice softening as I turned to her.
She nodded, her lips trembling as she whispered, “I’m fine.”
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Chapter 125
“Go inside,” I told her firmly. “I’ll hap
Her hesitation was bly. “I’ll handle this.”
As
she moved
)
“bur.
it was
tried
s the
Her eyes flickered to Nathan, then back to me, before she finally turned and walked toward the house.
+25 Bonus
Nathan’s eyes narrowed, hi follow, but I stepped into his path, blocking him. “Back off,” I growled. “The woman is grieving. Leave her alone.”
expression unreadable for a moment. Then something flickered–recognition, perhaps? But just as quickly as it appeared, he masked it with a smirk. “Grieving?” he echoed, his tone mockingly curious. “And what exactly is she grieving, Alexander?”
Chapter 123
