3

I didn't look at him as he was taken out of the courtroom. I squashed the annoying feeling of pity that was developing for him. He ought to be behind bars because he was dangerous. A vile man.

"We did it" Garret Hughes me tightly, my arms pinned to my side.

I nodded. I was relieved that the evidence had been enough to send him back and the case didn't drag on for so long but at the same time, I felt off. Like something was wrong. The feeling kept gnawing at me even though I wanted to ignore it.

"You don't look happy"

"I'm happy Garret. Relieved. I just want to get away from here as soon as possible" get back to my children and make sure they were safe. The lawyer's knowledge about my children had been a surprise to all of us. But it also meant the police had a rat. No surprise there.

"I'll go and speak with my boss for a minute. You fine by yourself?"

I nodded. There were people around. The Romanovs were yet to exit the building but I would be expecting them out soon. I had nothing to fear because there were armed men in the courthouse.

I moved by the wall and leaned against it. At that moment, the devils filed out. Looking like perfection in their remarkable designer clothes and beautiful faces. The lawyer had a sour look on her face and it brought me joy. She had lost and her stupid smug smile was gone. Also, Dimitrov would see she was a failure at her job and incapable of defending him.

Wait. Why did I care about that?

"So this is what you like to do? Backstab and lie and hide like a coward" I looked up at my old friend Vivian. Of course, she'd hate me for putting her brother behind bars. I wish it was that easy for me.

I wanted to hate her for making me cross paths with Dimitrov but I couldn't. She wasn't to blame for the horrible attitude of her brother.

"Leave me alone Vivian," I said and looked away.

"You're going to regret this Adeline. This pain you have caused my family...." I scoffed.

"You don't get to talk about pain to me Vivian. You have no idea what the fuck I've lost since I met your brother and got involved with your family. So don't stand there and speak to me about pain" I said bitterly.

"Any issues?" Garret's voice interrupted.

"No. Let's leave now" I said, walking past the silent Vivian. We got into the police car and Garret drove off.

"I have men watching them for any move they'd try to make since they lost. We're going to keep you safe"

"This isn't about me Garret. The children. He knows about them now. What happened?"

"I'm sorry about that. We're looking imo who the rat could be. For now, we have to change your location. If you want, we can keep the children...."

"No. My children come with me wherever I go"

"I understand. It's just that there could be a risk of them following us. If you intend to keep them away from his family, then maybe..."

"No" I cut him off.

"What I would like is for you to find out how they lost this case"

"We had evidence...."

"That's bullshit and you know it, Garret. He has the money and influence" I didn't miss the exchange between him and Aleks before the break.

"He could have won the case easily despite the evidence. See how silently they took the loss? That tells me something is very wrong. Help me look into it" I needed to be convinced that he had lost the case.

"I'll do that" We arrived at the police station and I was taken inside. I was given new clothes and some wigs to disguise my identity.

After dressing up, I came out into the hallway. Garret was waiting with two men.

"I can't go or it'll attract attention. I'll be with you by tomorrow" I nodded. I had done this before only that I was more frightened and Garret was with me the whole step.

We left through the secret exit into a rundown car. I lay flat on the backseat as they drove us out.

"Are we being followed?"

"Relax. You're in good hands"

Fifty minutes later we arrived at my home. The trick about my location was being right under their nose but they wouldn't think to search for me so close to the city.

The door opened and Agnes came out.

"Where..."

"Mama" I dropped to my knees as my two babies ran into my arms. I squeezed them tightly happy to know they were safe.

"You were gone for the whole day" Katya grumbled.

"I'm sorry love. And to make it up to you, we're going on a trip" Their eyes widened with excitement. We had never gone out of here much because we had to hide.

"You don't have to take anything, we'll get you new things as you go" they nodded.

I looked up at Agnes and she also nodded. Four of us filed into the back seat. Katya couldn't stay at a place, eager with excitement as we left our old home.

I didn't know the location of this new home. Twenty minutes into our drive, Katya said something that almost left me paralyzed.

"That car is following us" I turned back sharply to see a black exotic car trailing behind is.

"It could be a random car that...." That supposed random car rammed into us from behind. The children cried with fright at the impact.

"You need to go faster" I cried but the rundown car couldn't do anything.

The car slammed into us again from behind and then it was driving beside us, swerving to block the road. The driver tried to dodge them but it sent us crashing into a pole.

The front of the car was damaged and the two men at the front were unmoving. Using all my might, I kicked the door open, taking Ivan's hand and then Katya who wouldn't stop crying. Agnes limped out, her hand against her side.

"Are you okay?" She nodded. The car had stopped moving and no one was coming down. I quickly reached for my phone and dialed Garret's number. The line rang but I got no response. I heard the sound of more cars drawing closer.

"We have to run"

"You go. I can't...." Agnes swayed. She was injured more than I thought. I couldn't bear to leave her bit at the same time my children....

"Go" she cried as she dropped to the floor. There was a forest on the right side and was going to risk it but the first step I took, a loud gunshot rang out, drawing me to a stop. I held my children tightly as they cried louder.

Tires screeched as more cars pulled into the scene.

Doors opened and men in black came down. I hid my children's faces in my chest as they drew closer.

"Who shut the fucking gun?" A familiar voice asked and my heart rate doubled. He wasn't in jail. He was free.

"I only tried to..." he was silenced by the gunshot. The children sobbed louder and I shook as I held them against me. He walked up to me and I looked at his cruel face.

"We're going to have so much fun together" I felt a pinch in my neck and I lost feeling in my arms and legs. I collapsed uselessly on the floor and watched as my children were carried away, screaming and kicking.

I tried to move but the world was fading around me.

"I missed you my darling" his knuckles brushed against my cheek as the world went black.