Emma's POV I stared at the tied figure on the wooden chair, my eyes fixed on the person who had betrayed me in the worst possible way. Disappointment was etched on my face, my expression a mixture of shock and disgust. Every atom of love and trust I had once felt for this person had been replaced with disappointment, anger, and a deep sense of hurt.As I looked at them, I couldn't help but think about how they had deceived me, how they had manipulated me and used me for their own twisted purposes. My mind was racing with questions, with thoughts of how and why they had done what they did.But most of all, I felt a deep sense of sadness. Sadness that someone I had cared about could do something so heinous, so cruel. Sadness that my trust had been broken, and that my children had been put in harm's way.I took a step forward, my eyes locked on the figure in the chair. "Why?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "How could you do this to me, to my children?” I felt like I had been pun
Emma's POVIn blind fury, I remembered everything I went through. The masked men who came to attack me, the terror I felt as I fought for my life. The endless days and nights I spent searching for my kids, my heart heavy with worry and fear. The sleepless nights, the tears, the desperation.It all came flooding back, and with it, a wave of anger and hatred towards Angelo. I remembered the feeling of helplessness, of being at the mercy of my attackers. I remembered the pain, the fear, the uncertainty.And now, I realized that Angelo was behind it all. He was the mastermind, the one who had orchestrated my suffering. The one who had taken my children, who had threatened to hurt them.My vision blurred, my mind consumed by rage and fury. I took a step forward, my hands clenched into fists. "You," I spat, my voice low and venomous. "You did this to me. You took my children, you hurt me, you destroyed my life."Angelo smiled, but I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes. He knew he had unleashe
Emma's POV I sat down in the chair next to Gabe, my mind racing with thoughts of what to do next. We had taken care of Angelo, but we still had to get our kids back.Gabe put his hand on my knee, his eyes filled with concern. "We need to think this through," he said. "We can't just rush in without a plan."I nodded, taking a deep breath. I knew he was right. We had to be smart about this."Okay," I said. "Let's think. What do we know?"Gabe pulled out a piece of paper and started scribbling notes. "We know they want us to come to the old warehouse on 5th and Main. We know they have the kids."I nodded, my mind racing. "And we know they're willing to kill. We can't trust them."Gabe's eyes met mine. "We need to come up with a plan that assumes they'll try to double-cross us."I nodded, a plan starting to form in my mind. "I think I have an idea," I said.Gabe raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"I smiled, a sense of determination growing inside me. "Let's give them what they want," I said
Emma's POVI stepped into the dimly lit warehouse, my heart racing with every creak of the old wooden floorboards beneath my feet. Gabe's grip on my arm tightened, his eyes scanning the shadows as if he sensed the danger lurking within. I tried to shake off the feeling of unease, but it only seemed to intensify with each step."Where are they?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding in my chest.Gabe's response was a gentle tug on my arm, leading me deeper into the warehouse. The air inside was thick with dust and the stench of decay. I could feel eyes upon us, boring into my skin like cold, calculating fingers.Suddenly, Gabe stopped dead in his tracks, his head cocked to one side as if listening to a sound I couldn't hear. My mind began to spiral with worst-case scenarios. What if this was a trap? What if we were walking into a nightmare from which we'd never awaken?"Gab—"His warning glance silenced me. My heart skipped a beat as I strained to hear what had caught
Emma's POVI took a deep breath and nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. "Okay, I'll do what you want. Just please, let the children go."The gaunt man smiled, seeming to savor the moment. "Very well, Emma. You've made the right decision."He walked over to the Triplets, Carly and Lucas, who were still tied up and gagged. He removed their gags and began to untie them, but only partially. They were still trapped, locked in a small cage-like structure in the corner of the warehouse.Gabe's eyes narrowed, his face twisted in anger. "This wasn't the agreement," he growled. "You said you'd let them go, not lock them up like animals."The kidnapper chuckled. "Oh, but this is exactly what we agreed on, Gabe. You see, Emma agreed to cooperate, and this is the result. The children are safe, for now."I felt a surge of fear at his words. What did he mean by "for now"?Gabe struggled against his restraints, his face red with rage. "You lied to us," he spat. "You'll pay for this."The kidnappe
Emma's POV Esmeralda's eyes flashed with a murderous intent as she raised her hand to strike me again. "You're going to pay for what you've done, Emma," she spat. "You're going to die."But just as her hand was about to make contact, she clutched her head, her eyes widening in agony. A loud, throbbing sound echoed through the warehouse, seeming to come from the back of her head."Ahh!" Esmeralda screamed, stumbling backward. "Make it stop!"The gaunt man rushed to her side, trying to hold her down. "Esmeralda, what's wrong?"But she just thrashed about, her body convulsing. The sound grew louder and more intense, and I felt a strange vibration in the air.Gabe took advantage of the distraction to struggle against his restraints. "Emma, I think it's now or never," he shouted. "We have to get out of here!"I nodded, trying to think of a plan. But before I could even move, Esmeralda's body went limp, the sound stopping as suddenly as it had started.The warehouse was silent, except for
Gabe's POV As I watched Emma walk away, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. She was leaving, and I couldn't blame her. I had rejected her kids, my own flesh and blood. I didn't deserve her.But still, it hurt to see her go. I had grown accustomed to her presence, her smile, her laughter. The thought of being without her was unbearable.I slumped down on the couch, feeling defeated. I had messed up so badly. I had let my own fears and doubts get the best of me, and now I was paying the price.Emma came back into the room, her eyes red from crying. "I have to go," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I know," I said, my voice cracking. "I don't want you to go, but I know you have to."Emma smiled weakly and came over to me. "I'll always love you, Gabe," she said, her voice filled with emotion.I stood up, pulling her into my arms. "I'll always love you too, Emma," I replied, holding her tight. "I'm so sorry for everything. I w
Gabe's POV I took a deep breath, thinking about my next move. I needed to talk to Emma, to tell her that I wanted to be a part of the kids' lives. And I needed to talk to the kids themselves, to tell them the truth about who I was.I stood up, feeling a sense of determination. I was going to do this, no matter how scary it was."Thanks, April," I said, smiling at her. "I'll go talk to Emma now."April nodded, her eyes shining with encouragement. "Good luck, Gabe. You got this."I walked out of the room, feeling a sense of purpose. I was going to be a dad, and I was going to be a good one.I arrived at Emma's room, my heart racing with anticipation. I knocked softly on the door, and when she didn't answer, I let myself in.The room was quiet, the only sound the soft breathing of the kids asleep on the bed. Emma was sitting in a chair beside them, her eyes closed, a gentle smile on her face.I stood there for a moment, watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful. I felt a