Sophia’s POVThe memory hung in my mind like a shadow, vivid and unsettling. Lucas’s voice—the one I had heard in my dream, the one calling for Sabrina—now felt too real to dismiss as just a fragment of my imagination.I tried to focus on the snow, its mesmerizing dance beyond the glass, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing.And then Lucas stepped closer, his presence pulling me from my turmoil. His eyes searched mine. “What are you remembering?” he asked carefully. I turned to face him fully, my heart thundering in my chest. “It’s… hard to explain,” I began, forcing the words out through the lump in my throat. “I had a dream—a nightmare, really—about when I got lost in the snowstorm as a child. I mean, I already know that it was Morgana who actually left me behind because she’d met with her lover then. But now…”Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “Now what?”“Well, in my dream, I thought I heard Elijah calling my name. He’d been there with his family too, so…”Lucas’s expression tightened, but he s
Emily’s POVThe biting cold wrapped around me like a vice as the forest settled into an eerie stillness. The sounds of the chase from the night before had faded, but they seemed to continue echoing in my head. My legs ached, my hands were raw, and my breath fogged in the frigid air as I stumbled forward, searching for something—anything—that could serve as a refuge.It’s getting late. I have to find shelter first. The darkness was suffocating, but then, faintly, through the trees, I saw a glimmer of light. My heart leaped as I cautiously approached, praying it wasn’t a trap. What I found instead was a small, dilapidated hunting shack, nearly swallowed by the forest. Its wooden walls were warped, the roof sagging in places, but it was shelter. For now, it was enough.Inside, the air was stale and cold, but at least it shielded me from the howling wind. I found a dusty lantern and managed to light it with trembling hands, its soft glow pushing back the shadows. There was an old cot in
Sophia’s POVAs I stepped into my car, the cold leather seats sent a sharp chill through me. The afternoon sun, shy but persistent, peeked through scattered clouds, bathing the pristine snow in a gentle radiance. Thankfully, the blizzard had blown over quickly, and the roads were clear enough to navigate. It was the kind of crisp day that made the world feel brand new, but my thoughts were far from fresh.Lucas stood near the entrance of the ski resort, his hands shoved into his coat pockets. He waved, a warm smile on his face as I rolled down my window.“Thanks for coming, Sabrina,” he called, his voice carrying easily in the still air. I forced a polite smile, not knowing how to feel about him still calling me Sabrina up to now, especially after what I'd just discovered about my childhood. “Thanks, Lucas. The resort has so much potential. I’ll send over the updated designs soon.”“I’m looking forward to it,” he said, stepping back. “Drive safe. Roads might still be icy in some spot
Sophia’s POVThe warm scent of baked rosemary chicken and freshly baked bread greeted me as I stepped into Phoebe’s cozy apartment, immediately putting me at ease. Roxy and Jared scurried ahead, their laughter bouncing off the walls. Reese was the first to greet them, her face lighting up as she jumped up from the playmat in the corner.“Mommy!” Reese ran over, wrapping her arms around me in a quick hug before joining her siblings. “We’re playing house! Jared is the baby!”I laughed, kissing the top of her head. “You all behave, alright? And no bossing Jared around too much, Reese.”Kayla emerged from the small kitchen, balancing baby Asha on her hip. Her warm smile widened when she saw me. “Sophia! Finally. I was starting to think you’d gotten stuck in another snowstorm.”“Trust me, I almost did,” I said, exhaling as I set down my bag. “Thanks for picking up Reese. You’re a lifesaver.”“No problem,” Kayla replied, adjusting Asha in her arms. “You know I love spending time with your l
Elijah’s POVThe message arrived at midnight, just as I was about to call it a night. My phone vibrated softly on the desk, the glow of the screen casting eerie shadows across the room. An unknown number. No subject. Encrypted.A chill ran down my spine as I opened the email. The message contained a single image: a grainy photograph of a man at a port, captured mid-motion as he unloaded a crate from a shipping container. His head was tilted slightly, his face shadowed, but I’d recognize those features anywhere.Shit, it can’t be… But it is. It’s Vito. The man we had all believed was dead.A single line of text accompanied the photo: Some ghosts refuse to stay buried.My heart pounded in my chest. The timestamp on the image was recent, taken just three days ago. The location—a port I didn’t immediately recognize—was blurred in the background, but the shipping crates bore the logo of a company long suspected of being a Les Ombres Écarlates front.I stared at the photo, my thoughts raci
Chris’s POVThe boat cut through the dark water, its motor humming steadily beneath the sound of waves slapping against the hull. The air was crisp, tinged with salt and the faint scent of diesel.I held Emily close, her trembling frame tucked against mine as if I could shield her from everything that had happened. Her hair smelled faintly of the forest, damp and earthy from our time on the run. But for the first time in what felt like an eternity, her breaths were even. She was safe, and that was all that mattered.Luc sat at the helm, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. He didn’t look relaxed, not completely. His hand hovered near the firearm strapped to his side, his fingers tapping the edge of the wheel.“We’re clear for now,” he said, glancing back at us. “The mob scattered. No sign of them in the port, no tails on us. We’ve got a bit of breathing room.”I nodded, but the tension within me didn’t ease. “What about Marc?” I asked, my voice low, careful not to disturb the fragile
Elijah’s POVThe air inside the van was tense, thick with the kind of anticipation that made every sound sharper, every shadow more menacing. Joe sat beside me, his focus sharp as he scanned the live feed on the monitor. His men were positioned around the warehouse, their voices low over the comms as they reported their positions.“Movement at the rear entrance,” one of them said. “Two men unloading crates from a truck.”I leaned forward, squinting at the grainy black-and-white footage. The warehouse was nondescript, a hulking concrete building that blended into the industrial sprawl. But we knew better. This was a key hub for Les Ombres Écarlates, and tonight, we were here to confirm something that had kept me up for days—Vito’s survival.“There’s more activity near the side gate,” another voice crackled. “Four armed guards. Looks like they’re expecting something.”Joe exchanged a glance with me, his expression grim. “It’s definitely a big shipment. Whatever’s in those crates is imp
Elijah’s POVThe sharp scent of salt and oil dominated the surroundings, underscored by the industrial clatter of machinery and the distant shouts of Vito’s men echoing through the shipyard. I stayed pressed against the cold metal crate, my breaths shallow and measured. The sound of boots and angry voices reverberated through the maze of containers, too close for comfort.“Split up and cover the south end!” Vito’s voice boomed, carrying above the chaos.I cursed under my breath. They were organized, and their numbers made it clear—this wasn’t going to be an easy escape.My earpiece came to life. “Elijah,” Joe’s voice whispered urgently. “Get to the northwest corner. There’s a stack of containers near the crane. I’ll meet you there. Stay low.”I peeked around the edge of the crate. The narrow path ahead was littered with shadows, but further down, I could see the towering crane Joe had mentioned. It loomed like a beacon of hope—or a final destination.“Got it,” I whispered back, clutch
Sophia’s POVMy heart pounded as I gripped the phone tighter. "Mom? What’s wrong?"There was a moment of silence, just soft, uneven breaths on the other end of the line. My stomach twisted painfully. "Mom, talk to me!""S-Sophia…" her voice cracked, and I felt my chest constrict. "They’re here."I blinked, my mind struggling to keep up. "Who’s here?""Chris and Emily. They’re home."I inhaled sharply, my breath catching in my throat. For a second, I couldn't move, couldn't think. My pulse raced as my mind fought to process what she had just said.Chris and Emily are back.My grip on the phone loosened, my knees nearly buckling from the sudden rush of emotions. Relief, disbelief, overwhelming gratitude."Oh my God," I whispered, pressing a hand to my chest. "Are they okay?""I… I don’t know," my mother admitted, still sounding shaken. "They haven’t said much. But you need to come quick."I didn’t hesitate. "I’ll be right there."As I ended the call, I turned to see Elijah watching me,
Sophia’s POVThe kitchen was quiet except for the faint sizzle of eggs in the pan. It was still very early in the morning, and I could see the sun rising through the window. Normally, I would have stopped to admire the view. But my mind was still preoccupied with a lot of chaotic things. I had barely slept.Everything Lucas had told me last night still lingered in my mind, a tangled mess of unanswered questions and uneasy truths. Hugo Tournier. He had been part of my family's past all along, a ghost lurking in the shadows, and now he was back. It settled over me like a heavy fog, impossible to shake.But as much as my thoughts circled around Hugo, it was Elijah’s reaction that unsettled me more. The way he had looked at me. The sharpness in his voice when he told me I didn’t need to talk to Lucas anymore, that Joe would handle the investigation.He hadn’t accused me outright, but I could feel the tension beneath his words. The distance. Lucas was a sensitive issue between us—alwa
Sophia’s POVLucas stood in front of me, his face partially shadowed by the porch light, his eyes unreadable but filled with something that made my stomach twist—regret, sorrow, maybe even guilt.“I don’t even know where to start,” he murmured, running a hand through his hair.I crossed my arms, bracing myself. “Just tell me what you found.”He exhaled sharply, nodding. "I started looking into the records of missing children around the time you disappeared. A lot of reports were vague, but… I found something." He hesitated before continuing, his voice tight. "There was an old witness statement—a retired cop who had once suspected a man named Hugo Tournier."My breath hitched. The name. I had heard it before. Grandpa George had mentioned it when we talked about the man who might have taken me.Lucas continued, unaware of my growing realization. "The name meant nothing to me at first, but when I dug deeper, I realized it was connected to your family."My pulse quickened. “Connected how?
Emily’s POVDarkened streets stretched endlessly ahead as we sped through the city, the glow of neon signs flickering across the windshield. The sound of other cars was distant, almost muffled, drowned out by the pounding of my heart. My grip tightened on the edge of my seat, eyes darting to every shadowed alley, every figure on the sidewalk. It felt like eyes were on us—watching, waiting.Chris’s grip on the wheel was tight, his jaw set in a hard line. He hadn’t said much since we got the warning. The burner phone lay silent between us, the last message still glowing on the screen:“Do not go to the docks. You are being watched.”I swallowed hard. "Who sent it?""No idea," Chris muttered. "Could be someone helping us. Could be someone luring us into another trap."My stomach twisted. "So what do we do?"He exhaled sharply, eyes darting to the rearview mirror. "We can’t risk it. If someone’s waiting for us at the docks, we won’t stand a chance. We haven't been able to reach Crimson Ve
Sophia’s POVJared was safe. That was all that mattered.We were gathered in the house, the weight of the night still pressing heavily on our shoulders. But at least Jared was asleep now, curled up in his bed like nothing had happened. He hadn’t seemed afraid, hadn’t even realized the gravity of what Antoine had done. And for that, I was grateful. The last thing I wanted was for him to carry fear because of this.But once he woke up, I knew I would have to face the reality of telling him about his father. And why it was only now that he was finding out about Antoine. “We’re not pressing charges,” I had told Elijah. But we did have to watch our backs more carefully, to stay guarded and alert all the time. And we needed to make sure never to let Jared out of our sights again. Still, we had made Antoine promise never to pull something like this again. Not that his word meant much. I didn’t trust him, and I knew Elijah didn’t either. This wasn’t over. Not really.Phoebe sat beside me,
Sophia’s POVElijah and I sprinted through the mall, dodging past confused shoppers and security personnel as the urgency of the moment drove us forward. My heart pounded in my ears, my breaths coming fast and shallow.“We need to check the parking lot exits,” Elijah said, his voice tight with controlled fury. “If Antoine took Jared, he won’t risk staying here much longer.”Elijah nodded, pulling out his phone and dialing Joe. The moment Joe answered, Elijah got straight to the point. “Antoine’s here. He took Jared. We need to know if he has a car registered in his name or any known places he might go.”I looked at Elijah in anticipation. He nodded then ended the call. "He said he'll get back to us soon."My eyes darted around the busy corridor, searching for any sign of our son.Jared, my sweet boy. Where are you?Phoebe ran alongside me, her face streaked with tears. “He must’ve followed us,” she choked out. “I swear, I didn’t think— I mean, I saw someone watching, but I wasn’t sure
Sophia’s POVI pushed through the crowded mall, my heart hammering in my chest, my breath coming in short, uneven gasps. The world around me blurred into a haze of faces and voices, none of them the one I was searching for. Oh, god, Jared. Please be okay.My mind screamed his name with every step I took, my hands trembling as I grabbed Phoebe’s arm, trying to keep both of us steady.“He has to be here,” Phoebe said, her voice shaking as she wiped at her tear-streaked face. “He has to be here somewhere.”I wanted to believe her. I had to believe her. But the sheer panic clawing at my throat made it hard to hold on to hope. Jared wasn’t just missing—he seemed to have vanished into thin air. And the longer he was gone, the worse the possibilities became.“Elijah’s talking to security,” I said, scanning every store, every passerby, searching for even a glimpse of him. “They’re checking the cameras. We just have to keep looking.”Phoebe nodded frantically, but guilt was etched into every
Elijah’s POVAcross from me, I gazed lovingly at my wife. Sophia looked beautiful, her hair framing her face perfectly as she sipped her wine. For a moment, I let myself pretend that this was just a regular dinner date, that everything was normal.But it wasn’t.“The food’s amazing,” I said, taking another bite of my steak. “You picked a great place.”Sophia smiled faintly, but the crease between her brows betrayed the worry she was trying to hide. “I’m glad you like it,” she said softly. Her fork hovered over her plate for a moment before she set it down. “Elijah… do you think Chris and Emily are okay?”I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. “They’ll be fine,” I said firmly, though the weight in my chest made me doubt my own words. “The mob’s on its last legs. Even if there are survivors, they’re scattered and in no position to orchestrate anything.”She nodded, but her eyes didn’t meet mine. “I can’t help but worry. What if… what if some of them intercepted Chris and E
Sophia’s POVLennon, who had recently been transferred to a local hospital in the city, sat up in his bed, looking pale but stronger than I’d expected. Morgana sat by his side, her hand clutching his as if letting go would make him disappear. Her eyes were wet with happy tears, her face a mix of relief and joy that she was finally reunited with him.Elijah stood at the foot of the bed, his posture stiff, but his expression was open, filled with something I rarely saw: vulnerability. He cleared his throat, his voice low but steady as he spoke. “Lennon, I need to say something.”Lennon looked at him calmly. “Go on.”“I…” Elijah hesitated, then sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. For doubting you. For questioning your motives. You’ve done so much for all of us, for Morgana, for our family. And… I didn’t trust you the way I should have.”Lennon smiled faintly, shaking his head. “You don’t have to apologize, Elijah. I understand. With everything that’s happened, with all t