LOGINThe room fell silent immediately afterward. His chest rose and fell heavily, his jaw clenched so tightly that I thought he might crack a tooth. I folded my arms across my chest.“Then what exactly am I supposed to do?” I demanded. “Stay locked up here forever because your ex-wife is insane?”His eyes flashed. “Don’t.”“Don’t what?”“Don’t twist my words.”I laughed bitterly. “Oh, I’m twisting them?” I gestured around us. “This place is practically a prison. And you don’t want me to leave!”“Cecilia.”“No.” I shook my head. “I want an answer.”The frustration that had been building inside me since we left Barbados finally spilled over. “I spent four years running.” My voice cracked slightly. “I spent four years protecting my children.”His gaze immediately sharpened at the word children. I ignored it and continued. “Now you’re telling me that because Brittany found me, I’m supposed to become your prisoner?”Something flickered across his face. Guilt. It appeared for only a second befor
“Oh.”Was all that slipped out of me.Stanley’s expression was thunderous. “You remember.”After all these years, I thought what I’d done would forever stay buried. But somehow his brother knew what I did.But how? And how did he know where I was?Stanley shouts, breaking my train of thoughts. “After killing my brother, you go around frolicking and living with some rich guy.”Before I can speak up, Jude is on him, delivering a punch to his nose.“Ahhh!” The man groans in pain, rocking the chair he’s tied to, backwards. It tumbles to the floor, along with him. Jude steps back, still seething. “You have lot of nerve, insulting her after what I did to you.”I step forward, and reached for his arm. He goes rigid, before he visibly relaxes. “Jude, it’s okay.”Despite his now broken nose, Stanley laughs from the floor. “Of course, it’s going to be okay! That woman was right. You’re living the life without any guilt.”I’m about to open my mouth, and speak, not knowing what exactly I want t
CECILIA’S POVPeople always say that before you die, you see your life flash before your eyes.But I saw none of that.The moment I was stabbed from behind, I was overwhelmed with pain. I felt a heavy weight come upon me.I could barely understand what was happening, until I felt someone’s warm arms around me. The twins were crying and Mae was calling for help.“Cecilia.”And somehow, Jude was holding me and calling out to me. “Don’t leave me.”I wanted to say that was the plan, but my lips couldn’t move, and before I knew it, everything went dark.***The first thing I saw was white ceiling. There was nothing remarkable about it to trigger my senses immediately. There was the loud beeping of a machine, but I could barely place it. My head felt heavy and void of any coherent thoughts. I stayed staring at the ceiling for a few minutes, until I realised my hand was being held and tugged on.Slowly, I turned my head.Jude.He was sitting beside my bed.His large hand completely swallo
A small movement pulled him from his thoughts.Allison had woken up beside him. She opened her eyes, blinking away the sleep. She immediately spotted him. Without hesitation she climbed off the sofa.Mae watched curiously. So did Jude.The little girl rummaged through her backpack. Then returned carrying several small toys. She placed them on a nearby table.“What are you doing?” Jude asked. Allison looked offended. “Setting up.“For what?”“A tea party, and you’re the guest.” She pointed towards a chair by the window. “Sit.”“Allison!” Mae scolded the child for her manners, making Alex rouse from his own slumber. The girl huffed a breath, then batted her eyelashes cutely. “Sorry scary man. Please can you sit and join my tea party?”“I’m not scary ma—“Pleaaaaaaase.” She stretched out. Alex was fully awake now. He nodded and ran towards the table. “Yeah. Pleaseeeeeee.”Jude wanted to say no, but staring at the twins sparkling eyes somehow softened him. It seemed crying after Cecil
The paramedics moved quickly.Jude walked beside the stretcher as they rushed Cecilia through the hospital entrance. Blood still stained his hands and shirt. Though he barely noticed.“Sir, please step back.”One of the nurses blocked his path as they pushed Cecilia through another set of doors.Jude didn’t move.“She needs surgery immediately.” Another doctor said.“Then do it.” He replied gruffly.The doctors exchanged looks. “We need authorization.”“You have it.”“We also need—”“You have everything.”Jude pulled out his phone.Within minutes hospital administrators were rushing downstairs.The best surgeons in the building were called in. Operating rooms were cleared. Specialists were brought in.Jude was willing to pay all the money in the world as long as it meant Cecilia’s eyes opened. She disappeared behind the operating room doors, and he suddenly felt helpless. Unable to do anything further, except to wait. Hours passed.Jude sat outside the operating room.Mae sat opposi
Jude sped up his car. Roman communicated with him through his in-ears. They were scouring the city all morning, and afternoon.Jude drove around himself, following the trail of where cameras had last picked up Cecilia.The traffic light showed red, and he stopped. While waiting, he realised there was training station nearby. He had asked Roman to get access to all camera footage of the city in the penthouse’ perimeter. From the traffic videos, there was no trace of them.His intuition told him to go to the station. They hadn’t tracked there. So Jude parked his car, and called Roman.“Bring my men to the central train station. I’m heading downtown.”He ended the call, ans thought, if a woman wanted to run away, she would definitely take the furthest stop away from the city.And so, that was where he went. ***Jude stepped off the train and immediately knew something was wrong.The station platform was crowded, but nobody was acting normally. People were rushing in one direction. S







