All Chapters of After The Night In Miami : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Elena’s POV“Mommy, why is the TV yelling your name?”Leo’s tiny voice slices through the fog in my head . I’m curled on the couch, knees to chest, Julian’s arms still locked around me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go . The remote is on the floor where I dropped it when the news ticker started crawling .JULIAN HAYES EXPECTING FIRST CHILD WITH FIANCÉE GISELLE ROMANO – EXCLUSIVE ULTRASOUNDI can’t look away from the grainy black-and-white image filling the sixty-five-inch screen . Eight weeks. A little blob with a heartbeat arrow. Except that blob is fake and the heartbeat belongs to a lie Giselle paid someone to photoshop.Julian’s entire body goes rigid behind me. “Turn it off.”His voice is lethal quiet. I’ve never heard it like this .I reach for the remote , but my hand shakes too hard. Leo crawls into my lap , confused, pressing his sticky fingers to the screen like he can make the bad picture go away." Mommy, what is that....?" Leo asks me, and i can't give him an

Elena’s POV“Get that camera out of my face or I swear to God....”Julian’s warning cuts off the second the first flash explodes in my eyes.I’m still holding Leo’s T-Rex , the red ribbon fluttering against my wrist like a surrender flag that isn’t mine . The playground gate is barely closed behind us and already the vultures are here, twenty, thirty, maybe fifty of them, screaming questions, shoving lenses over the fence .“Elena! Did Julian’s fiancée kidnap your son?”“Is the kidnapping revenge for the fake pregnancy?”“Smile for the camera, single mom!”One of them vaults the low fence, camera raised like a weapon.Julian moves so fast I only see the aftermath .His fist connects with the guy’s jaw . A sickening crack. The photographer flies backward , camera shattering on the concrete.Blood sprays across Julian’s white shirt like war paint .The crowd goes feral.Phones up. More flashes. Someone screams .Julian stands over the guy, chest heaving, knuckles already swelling .“Tou

Elena’s POV“Put the gun down, Julian. You’re scaring the child.”Giselle’s voice is syrupy sweet , the same tone she used when she told the world she was carrying Julian’s baby . She’s perched on the edge of a white velvet sofa like a queen on a throne, legs crossed, champagne flute dangling from manicured fingers . Thorne stands behind her, cigar glowing . Chloe is in the corner, phone up, red live-stream dot blinking .And on the couch between Giselle and Luna…Leo.My baby is curled on his side, cheeks flushed, breathing too slow . His little chest rises and falls like he’s in the deepest sleep of his life .I take one step forward and the world tilts .“Leo,” I choke.Giselle smiles. “He’s fine. Just a tiny dose of something to keep him calm . Children get so fussy when they’re scared, don’t they ?”Julian’s gun doesn’t waver. “Touch him again and I swear to God....”“You’ll what?” Giselle laughs, light and cruel. “Shoot me in front of twenty million viewers?” She tilts her head

Elena’s POV“Mommy, why are you crying in the shower again ?”Leo’s voice is small through the bathroom door, and it rips me in half . I’m sitting on the marble floor, water pounding my back, trying to scrub yesterday off my skin . The steam is thick, but it doesn’t hide the shaking .I wipe my face, force my voice steady. “Just got shampoo in my eyes, baby. Go ask Daddy for more orange juice, okay?”His little footsteps pad away. I stay on the floor until the water runs cold .When I finally come out wrapped in Julian’s robe, Leo is on the kitchen counter, legs swinging, syrup on his chin, telling Julian how T-Rex saved the whole world last night . Julian is flipping dinosaur pancakes, shirtless, hair messy, smiling like nothing happened .But his eyes flick to me the second I walk in, and the smile falters .“Morning, fox,” he says softly .Leo waves a sticky fork. “Daddy made volcano pancakes! Look, Mommy, they have lava!”I walk over, kiss the top of his head. “Best lava ever.

Elena’s POV“Delivery for Elena Alvarez.”The courier’s voice crackles through the intercom, cheerful , like he’s bringing flowers instead of whatever fresh hell this is. I’m on the couch with Leo asleep against my chest, his little hand curled around my necklace, T-Rex tucked under his chin . Julian is in the kitchen making coffee, pretending he’s not watching the door like it might explode _.He walks over, presses the button . “Leave it with security, we’ll pick it up later .The courier laughs. “Can’t, sir. Signature required. From a Mrs. Serena Alvarez. Says it’s fragile.”My stomach drops straight through the floor .Julian’s eyes meet mine .He hits the button again. “Send it up.”I sit up so fast Leo stirs. “Julian, no.”He’s already moving, gun in his hand, jaw carved from granite. “We’re opening it together.”Victoria walks in from the guest room, robe tied tight, face grim. “I heard. I’m staying.”The elevator dings .A plain brown box, no bigger than a microwave, sits o