Chapter 108
Aria’s point of view
“I know, sweetheart. I know,” Olivia said through the phone, her voice crackling slightly. “But listen to me. You’re doing the right thing. You’re protecting Noah, That’s what matters p>
I pressed the phone harder against my ear. My other hand gripped the edge of the kitchen counter, knuckles white. “What if he finds us anyway p>
“Then you’ll deal with it. Like you’ve dealt with everything else.” Her voice was steady, firm. “You’re the strongest person I know, Aria. You survived Damien, you built an empire from nothing. I know you can survive this too p>
“I don’t feel strong.” My voice cracked. The words feeling hollow on my tongue.
“You never do, but you are,” she said gently. She let out a breath, long and tired. “How long will you be gone p>
“I don’t know, maybe until Damien handles Marcus.” I laughed, the sound bitter and sharp in the quiet kitchen. “However long that takes p>
“Okay. Well, I’m here. Whatever you need, if you want me to fly out there”
“No. Stay safe and stay away from this mess.” I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. The skin came away wet.
“This mess is my best friend’s life,” Olivia’s voice was firm, almost angry. “So I’m here. Always. Got it p>
“Got it.” I wiped my eyes again, harder this time. “Thank you p>
“That’s what I’m here for,” she said warmly. She paused. “Now go pack. Keep Noah safe and Aria p>
“Yeah p>
“It’s okay to let Damien help. I know you are being careful but right now, you need him p>
“I know.” The admission hurt coming out.
“Good, call me when you get there. And text me every day or I’ll lose my mind p>
“I will. I promise.” I said sniffling slightly.
“Love you, babe p>
“Love you too p>
I hung up as I stared at the phone for a moment. The screen went black, reflecting my tired face back at me.
Damien appeared in the doorway. His footsteps had been silent on the hardwood floor. “Ready p>
“No.” I pocketed my phone. The weight of it felt heavy against my thigh. “But let’s do it anyway p>
Damien’s POV
I moved through the penthouse like a machine. Clothes. Toiletries. Noah’s toys, documents and cash. Everything fits into three suitcases and two backpacks. The sound of zippers filled the air, sharp and final.
Aria packed Noah’s things with shaking hands. I could hear her breathing, fast and shallow. She folded his dinosaur pajamas, the fabric soft and worn between her fingers. Tucked his favorite books into the side pocket of his backpack. The books made a soft thud against each other.
“We need to wake him,” I said quietly, keeping my voice low.
“I know.” She looked at the bedroom door. Her jaw was tight. “I hate this p>
“I know.” I stepped closer. The floor creaked under my weight.
We moved together into Noah’s room. The nightlight cast a soft blue glow across the walls. He slept on his back, mouth slightly open. His chest rose and fell with each breath.
“Baby.” Aria sat on the edge of his bed. The mattress dipped under her. “Noah, sweetheart wake up p>
“Mm?” He stirred, rubbing his eyes with small fists. “Mama p>
“Hey, baby. We need to go on a trip.” She smoothed his hair back from his forehead as her hand trembled.
“Now?” He blinked at the window, squinting. “It’s dark p>
“I know. But Daddy has a surprise for you. A special house with a big yard p>
“Really?” He sat up, suddenly interested as the blanket pooled around his waist. “Can I bring my T-Rex p>
“Of course.” I handed him the dinosaur. The plastic was warm from being near his bed. “And all your other toys. They’re already packed p>
“Cool!” He scrambled out of bed, his bare feet hitting the floor with soft pats. “Are we flying p>
“Private plane.” I lifted him onto my hip, he was warm and heavy with sleep. “How does that sound p>
“Awesome!” He wrapped his arms around my neck. His breath was hot against my collar.
Aria grabbed his backpack. Her face was pale in the dim light, shadows under her eyes dark and deep. We moved quickly, down the elevator.
The machinery hummed around us. Through the lobby, the marble floor echoed our footsteps. The night doorman barely glanced up from his phone, the screen casting blue light on his face.
The car was waiting. A Black SUV with tinted windows. The engine was already running, exhaust rising in the cold air.
“In.” I opened the back door. The smell of leather hit me.
Aria climbed in first, her movements stiff. I handed her Noah, then the luggage. The bags landed with heavy thumps.
“Airport,” I told the driver, meeting his eyes in the rearview mirror.
We pulled away from the curb. The tires gripped the pavement with a low hum. Noah pressed his face to the window, his breath fogging the glass. “Where are we going p>
“Portland,” Aria said softly, wrapping her arms around him. “It’s far away. But it’ll be an adventure p>
“Will there be dinosaurs p>
“Maybe.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Her voice was hollow. “We’ll have to look p>
He settled back against her, his eyelids already drooping. The city gave way to the highway. Streetlights flashed past in a steady rhythm, creating stripes of light across the dark interior.
My phone buzzed with an unknown number. The vibration was harsh against my leg. I pulled it out. Running already, little brother?
I turned off the phone as the screen went black with a soft click.
“Who was that?” Aria asked quietly, her voice tight with worry.
“No one that is important.” I shoved the phone in my pocket.
She didn’t believe me but she didn’t push. Her lips pressed into a thin line. Noah fell asleep against her shoulder. She held him tight, one hand cradling his head. Her fingers threaded through his dark curls.
The airport appeared in the distance. Bright lights against the dark sky, like a small city of its own. “Private terminal,” I told the driver, leaning forward. “Gate seven p>
We pulled up to a small building away from the main airport. No crowds or security lines. Just a sleek white plane waiting on the tarmac. Its lights blinked red and white.
“Come on.” I lifted the sleeping Noah from Aria’s arms. His head lolled against my shoulder. “Let’s go home p>
“This isn’t home,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
“No.” I adjusted Noah against my shoulder. His breath was warm on my neck. “But it’s safe. And right now, that’s all that matters p>
We boarded the plane as I settled Noah into one of the seats, buckling him in carefully, the leather creaked softly. He didn’t wake, just made a small sound in his sleep.
Aria collapsed into the seat across from him. Her hands were still shaking. She gripped the armrests hard enough that her knuckles turned white.
“We’re okay,” I said quietly, sitting across from her. “Marcus can’t follow us, not where we’re going p>
“You don’t know that.” She stared at Noah, not blinking.
“I do.” I sat beside her. The seat was cold through my shirt. “The safe house is off the books. No records or paper trail. I bought it under a shell company a few years ago p>
“Why?” She finally looked at me. Her eyes were red-rimmed.
I hesitated. “In case I ever needed to disappear p>
She looked at me. “You planned for this p>
“I planned for everything.” I leaned back as the leather squeaked. “My father taught me that, always have an exit strategy p>
“Your father was a monster.” Her voice was flat, matter-of-fact.
“Yes.” I didn’t argue. “But he wasn’t wrong about everything p>
The engines started, a low rumble that vibrated through the cabin. The whole plane shook slightly. “Buckle up,” the pilot’s voice came through the speaker, tinny and professional. “We’ll be in the air in five minutes p>
Aria clicked her seatbelt. The metal buckle made a sharp snap. She stared out the window, her reflection ghost-like in the glass.
“I hate this,” she said softly, her breath fogging the small window. “Running, hiding like we’re the criminals p>
“We’re not running.” I covered her hand with mine. Her skin was ice cold. “We’re regrouping. There’s a difference p>
“Is there?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
The plane started moving. Slowly at first, then faster. The runway lights blurred into streaks. And then we were lifting up into the dark sky. The ground fell away below us.
Aria cried silently, tears streaming down her face. They caught the cabin lights, making wet tracks on her cheeks as her shoulders shook. And I sat there, holding her hand, wishing I could fix this. Wishing I could go back and undo every mistake that led us here.
But I couldn’t. So instead, I did the only thing I could. I held on and promised myself that Marcus would pay for every single tear on Aria’s face.