Chapter 4

The engine roared as I sped through the streets, the SUV swerving dangerously with every sharp turn.

  We narrowly escaped .

  "Slow down, Ry !" James’s voice was tense, his hand gripping the dashboard .

  I didn ’t answer. My mind was spinning, replaying everything that had just happened. That informant . He’d set me up.

  But why?

  " Ryan , I’m serious, slow down" James tried again, his tone sharper now.

  "Call the pilot," I finally said, my voice cold and firm. "Get the jet ready. We’ re heading back to Spain immediately."

  James turned to me, incredulous . "Back to Spain ? We haven’t done anything here! We’ re in New York for a mission… "

  I cut him off with a glare that silenced him instantly.

  "We’ re heading back to Spain ," I said, my tone final. “Call the pilot.. NOW.”

  Of course, James knew better than to argue…

  **********

  Three weeks later.

  Sophie ( Elena )'s POV

  The woman in the mirror stared back at me, confidence radiating from her like a second skin.

  I allowed myself a small smile.

  I was no longer the shy, weak Sophie Hendricks . I was Elena Maxwell now, and I had to clearly embody that identity completely.

  "Own it," Mrs. Janet's voice echoed in my mind, as clear as if she were standing beside me.

  Mrs. Janet . My angel in human form. She had been my guiding light through the darkness of those prison years.. helping me travel safely through my pregnancy , being there when Jonas came into the world. I owed so much to her.

  Today, I was finally visiting her.

  Becca , my trusted companion and Mrs. Janet's former helper, was waiting outside the house.

  She was the one who pick me on the day I was freed , and she has remained with me since.

  We made our way to the prison where Mrs. Janet now was.

  In no time, we arrived. The gates of the facility stood near and threatened tall, but nothing about them threatened me.

  Not anymore .

  We were brought through the proces quickly.. Mrs. Janet's influence making sure things moved smoothly.

  When I finally saw her in her prison uniform, she appeared just as intimidating as I recalled . Her almost magical aura and her piercing eyes sparkled when they locked onto mine.

  " Elena ," she greeted , pulling me into a warm hug . The fabric of her uniform was rough, but her touch was familiar, grounding .

  "Mrs. Janet ," I said, my voice steady, yet filled with thankfulness .

  She stepped back, studying me with a pleased expression. "Look at you. You're a different woman."

  "I had to be," I replied with a small smile.

  She led us to her private room within the prison.. a privilege few had. The space was thinly distributed but neat, clean, and attractive, a reflection of the woman who occupied it.

  As we sat down, she looked around. “Where’s my little Jonas ? I don’t see him anywhere.”

  “There’s a class outing at his school today,” I explained . “He’s out with the other kids .”

  She nodded , her expression softening . “He’s growing up so fast. And you’ re raising him beautifully, Elena .”

  Her words warmed something inside me and I smiled in response. Mrs. Janet had always been more than a mentor .. she was family.

  Mrs. Janet ’s eyes turned to Becca , a quiet cue I noticed . Her demeanor became more solemn, the earlier warmth turning into a clearer intensity.

  Promptly sensing the signal, Becca leaned in and retrieved a slender file from her bag.

  "Here is the document you asked for, ma’am," she remarked , her tone formal as she passed it to Mrs. Janet .

  Silently , Mrs. Janet reached out the file to me, her gaze meeting mine. "This is meant for you, Elena ," she stated, her tone firm.

  I paused for a moment before grabbing it, my fingers gliding over the sleek edge of the file as I opened it with shaky hands, and my heart almost skipped a beat when I saw it... Elena Maxwell .

  The real Elena Maxwell . Mrs. Janet ’s late daughter.

  My eyes moved through the pages in disbelief , stopping abruptly on a name that sent chills down my spine : Bruce Hendricks .

  I couldn ’t stop the gasp that escaped my lips.

  "Why is his name here? What’s the connection?" I asked, my voice uneven , my eyes darting from the file to Mrs. Janet .

  She smiled faintly , though there was no humor in it.

  Her expression was cold, calculating . “Your husband,” she began, pausing briefly , “sorry, ‘ ex -husband,’ isn ’t just a drug trafficker hiding behind his so-called design company. He’s also a murderer. A man who takes lives without a second thought.”

  Her words hit like a blow. My mind raced as I tried to process them, but she wasn ’t done.

  “I had Becca bring these so you could see for yourself, that’s why I asked her to bring the documents .”

  I turned back to the papers, my eyes scanning the incriminating details laid out so plainly .

  My stomach churned . The dots began connecting . the timelines , the deals , the accidents I’d brushed off as coincidences during our marriage.

  One year of marriage. One year.

  "Did I even know him at all?" The question slipped from my lips before I realized I’d said it aloud. My voice cracked, heavy with disbelief .

  Mrs. Janet leaned forward slightly, her tone firm. “No, Elena . You didn ’t. But now you do.”

  I was about to say something else but the words died on my lips.

  “Relax Soph ,” She said, “All you should do now is getting revenge.. for you.. for us.. this is why I did all I could to get you out of prison and even gave you my late daughter’s identity. You cannot be weak now sweetheart . Okay?”

  Before I could respond my phone rang.

  I glanced at the screen. A strange number.

  My eyes darted between Becca and Mrs. Janet . Both nodded , urging me to pick it up.

  I hesitated , then swiped to answer, lifting the phone to my ear without saying a word.

  Before I could speak, a voice came through.. smooth, taunting , and far too familiar.

  “Hey, the Elena Maxwell . You didn ’t think it was necessary to give me a call? Turns out you’ re alive after all. I got the information.”

  My heart dropped into my stomach. That voice. Oh, God. I knew it too well. Even after all these years, it hadn ’t changed.

  I gripped the phone so tighter my knuckles ached .

  “Who’s this?” I asked, my voice low and shaky , though I already knew the answer.

  A dry chuckle . “You want to play hide and seek? Well, it’s me, Bruce Hendricks . Who else?”

  My breath paused , and without hesitation , I terminated the call, my shaking fingers struggling to hit the button.

  The phone fell from my grip, hitting the table with a muted thump .

  "No," I murmured , shaking my head while panic gripped my chest. “I can’t do this..”

  “ Elena .” Mrs. Janet ’s firm voice snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. She leaned forward, her sharp gaze piercing .

  “You will do this. You must! You cannot be weak!”

  We had a few more talks before Becca and I headed out.

  On our way to my son’s school to pick him up, the call came again.. the strange number from before.

  “Just what the fuck does he want?!” I muttered .

  “Hey, pick the call Elena .” Becca said and I did, gathering my resolve. I cannot be weak, Mrs Janet had said.

  I put the phone on speaker and his voice came through.. a strange, almost mocking tone that sent a chill down my spine .

  “ Elena Maxwell ,” he drawled , stretching my name like it was a private joke. “I thought I’d let you know... I have your little Jonas with me. Right now. Safe for now, at least.”

  My heart stopped.

  “If you want your boy back,” he continued, his tone humorless , “you know where to find me.”

  “What?!” The word tore from my throat, my voice shaking with panic and anger.

  The line went dead.

  Becca quickly looked at me, her knuckles tightening around the steering wheel. "He's faking ," she said, though her voice carried doubt.

  "He's not," I whispered , my hands shaking with fear and emotion.

  My phone buzzed again. This time, it was Jonas's teacher. My stomach shook and rolled around really fast as I answered.

  “Hello?” I managed .

  “Mrs. Maxwell ,” her voice was hesitant . “I’ ve been trying to reach you. Jonas is… missing. We can’t find him anywhere.”

  It was like the ground beneath me gave way.

  “No... no, no, no!” I gasped , holding the dashboard for support. My voice grew frantic. “What do you mean missing? You were supposed to watch him!”

  “Ma’am, he was here just minutes ago, and now… ”

  I didn ’t hear the rest.

  The phone slipped from my hand as I screamed , “Turn back to the penitentiary , Becca !”

  “ Elena… ”

  “NOW! That bastard has my son!”