LOGINFIVE YEARS LATER.SHIMMA’S POV.It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and there was nothing more relaxing than getting a good tan at the beach.I lay back, soaking in the sun and the soothing sound of the ocean, when a ball suddenly hit me from the side.“I’m so sorry, Mum! It was Dad this time,” my seven-year-old Noah exclaimed, dashing toward me with wide eyes. He knew I wouldn’t take it lightly with them. This was the third time the ball had hit me, and I was certain it was Mattias trying to get my attention. So obsessed.I turned to Mattias, who was struggling to suppress his laughter, his hand covering his mouth. The corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement, and I couldn't help but smile at his playful expression.“Mattias! This is the third time. I promise you, I’ll seize this ball if it hits me one more time!” I said, dusting the sand off my skin with mock outrage, a grin betraying my feigned annoyance.“Sorry, Mummy!” Noah giggled, taking the ball and running back to Mattias.
“Bang!” A loud bang erupted from Noah’s end. “Noah!” I yelled, turning to him. He fell to the floor, scared and crying from the sound of the gunfire. It took me a few seconds to realize what had happened. Lucas lay on the ground in a pool of his own blood, his eyes wide open as he stared into thin air. He had been shot—Noah had shot him through his back. I got up quickly, running toward Noah. I scooped him up, holding him tight and close to me. He had saved me. My little boy had saved us all from this monster—someone I thought I knew, but who had proven me so fucking wrong. For years, we had lived in fear, in pain and worry. But today, right now, it was all over. The distant wail of police sirens cut through the air. I opened the door to Lucas’s passenger seat, letting my baby girl out. “Daddy!” she screamed, and I carried her too, planting a kiss on her forehead. “My angel,” I said to her. She rested her head on my left shoulder, her arms wrapped around me. Noah al
SHIMMA’S POVI took a deep breath, trying to calm myself when the door opened.But to my surprise, it wasn’t Lucas. It was someone else—a lady. An elderly lady, at that.“H—Hi, good day, Ma’am,” I greeted, my heart pounding in my chest.“Hi?” the lady said, giving me a curious yet confused stare.“How can I help you?” she asked.“Uhm… I was asked to come to this address. Do you happen to know any man who goes by the name Lucas? He sent me this address,” I explained.“Lucas?” she said softly, as if trying to remember. “There’s nobody I know who has the name Lucas. I live alone here. My husband is late; I’m so sorry,” she said. I nodded, swallowing my disappointment.He had faked another address. What the hell is wrong with that son of a bitch? Why can’t he just stop? I’m tired—tired of this whole bullshit! I want my kids back! I want my life back! I want my peace back!I forced a smile at the lady, who was already about to go back inside.“Thank you so much,” I said.“You’re welcome, m
MATTIAS’S POVI kept following behind Lucas until we got to a deserted area where barely anyone could be.He kept going, red dust blocking my vision, but it wasn’t going to stop me.Finally, he stopped, probably out of gas or maybe he had already given up. But that didn’t mean I would take it lightly on him.He stepped out of his car even before I could reach him. He pointed a gun at my car, then, with his other hand, he opened the door, dragging my son Noah from the car. I could see Nora struggling to get out, but he shoved the door before she could even reach it.I quickly took my gun, stepping out of my car and rushing toward them with my gun pointed at him. But he didn’t point the gun back at me; instead, he aimed it at Noah.The moment Noah saw me, he screamed, his eyes wide with fear and relief.“Daddy!” he screamed, attempting to run toward me, but my little boy was held back by a man who was supposed to be his dear uncle.It was almost impossible to believe Lucas would ever do
MATTIAS’S POV (continued)It’s—It’s him… Lucas! It’s Lucas!I heard myself scream. But before I could make sense of everything, before I could understand why he had been opposite my house for so long and no one seemed to have suspected, I mean, who would have thought?He zoomed off, driving away at high speed.I immediately followed behind him, my heart racing as I picked up my phone. My eyes darted between the road, Lucas’s car, and my phone.I dialed the detective’s number, hoping he would pick up quickly.“Pick up! Pick up!” I mumbled, and finally, his voice came through.“Hello,” he said in a soft, calm, yet curious tone.“I saw Lucas; he was just opposite our building. Send some officers to check the house. My kids might be in there or with him in his car, and he is driving really fast. I’m behind him. Get back to me soon, okay?” I said, hanging up before he could even respond. I was driving so fast that I could barely talk.I had to get to him. I couldn’t let him escape. This wa
“Hello?” I said, my voice crackled.“Are you ready?” he asked, as if this were a game to him. Fucking bastard.“Yes, I am,” I replied in a low, calm tone. Part of me was relieved and ready to see my children, but most of me was uncertain about whether the tracking devices would help. What if he was too quick? What if someone got hurt? What if someone died in the process? And it happened not to be Lucas. Oh God!He ended the call without another word, leaving me confused. He didn’t tell me where to go. Was he coming here himself? What was his next move?Mattias and the detectives looked confused because it was on speakerphone.“Why didn’t he tell us the address? What is wrong with that fool?” Mattias asked, his voice laced with frustration.“Buzz! Buzz!!”My phone buzzed with a notification. I opened the text message, and there it was—the address. I recognized it. It was about a half-hour drive.“Is that the address? Let me see,” Mattias said as I handed the phone to him.He glanced do







