Knocked out

Ava's pov

My heart skipped a beat when Julian mentioned the kids. "Julian, what's wrong with them?" I asked, keeping my voice low to avoid attracting more attention.

"I don't know, I just got a random call and .. Listen, we have to go home," Julian replied, his brow furrowed. He left money on the table for the uneaten breakfast.

As we drove back home, my mind raced with the worst case scenarios. "I hope they are okay. I won't forgive myself if anything happens to them," I muttered, my voice trembling.

Julian placed a reassuring hand on my lap, his touch warm and comforting. "Everything will be fine, just calm down," he said firmly, but I detected a hint of nervousness beneath his calm demeanor.

As we approached the house, my heart racing, everything seemed in order. Julian pulled the car to a halt, and I opened the door, my palms growing sweaty.

"Here, in case anything goes wrong," Julian said, handing me a gun. I grasped it tightly, the familiar weight providing a sense of security