Mia’s POV“It's almost time, I don't want to miss another opportunity to be reunited with my boys” I yelled at Azek who was delaying. He had told me not to go there alone. At this point, I didn't care if I went there alone or not. I just wanted to get my boys. This was the last opportunity I had. The more I pondered over the situation the more I got lost in thoughts of despair. We were still at the hospital, with so many things to do, Natalia’s discharge was still processing, the police were still a mile away from the hospital, and Azek needed to finish making the necessary preparations for the exchange. He was already worked up, his eyes deprived and his face squeezed from so much frowning and thinking. “Mia, I won't let go there unprotected, we don't know what Chloe has in store. What if she had another plan to whisk you away too? I can't lose you or anybody again. Please just stay put and allow me to put things in place” Azek's words stuck me hard. He was already traumatized. His
The ExchangeMia’s POV The voice yelling at me sent chills down my spine. I scanned the area but the evening fog prevented me from seeing far from where I stood. I kept my cool and answered the question. With a shaky voice, a feeble leg, and a traumatized mind I stood there like a dried leaf awaiting the violent winds to blow me away into oblivion. The voice came from the depth of a dimly lit alley, I stood right in front of the alleyway. The silence was deafening, the sound of water dripping into a puddle created an eerie atmosphere. Fear gripped me, eating my courage away like a parasite. “My name is Mia and I came to get my kids” I spoke loudly but my voice was a bit shaky revealing the fear that gripped me. There was silence for a few seconds and I thought I wasn't audible enough. So I took another deep breath to repeat myself but I was cut short by the male voice again. “Are you alone ?”This question made my legs shake and my feeble mind drowned in fear. My lips became heavy
Chloe's POV “Don't let them run away” I exclaimed. This was supposed to be a smooth process. I Neva expected them to come with backup. And besides I thought they had a divorce. How could Mia have such police command like this? Even snipers !!! I screamed in my mind. This wasn't what I expected. “What are you doing crack heads” I yelled at the machinery I came with. They were all dumb humans. They were supposed to protect me not start a gunfight. I watched as they fell to their deaths one by one. The police had better weapons than they did. I tried hiding, but the thousands of bullets destroyed every cover I tried using. Furthermore, I had to change position and get new. The sight was gruesome and bloody. All I planned was to take Mia and the kids into custody. Removing them from the picture would clear the way, so I could have direct access to Azek. But that small plan has turned into a bloodbath. The more the machinery fell, the closer the police advanced. Bit by bit they closed
Mia’s POV“Ohh my dear please stop the car, let's call for help. We need to get you to a hospital. Your bleeding "I exclaimed to Azek who was still driving with his injury. The courage and determination Azek had was admirable. He made sure we were far away from the gunfight. He went as far as taking a bullet for his family, truly he’s the dream father and husband anybody could ask for. I watched him groan in pain and agony forcing his weak body to drive the car. He held his lower stomach with one hand and drove violently with the other hand. He shook his head as his eyes were closing gradually. I sat at the back of the car, overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. My heart skipped a beat and my chest crushed under the gravity of the situation.Azek was zoning out and his concentration on the road was reduced by the minute. “Azek please stop the car, let me call for help. Don't die protecting us "I yelled again at him. The crying of the kids made it difficult for me to calm down. The more t
Azek’s POV “Pain! So much pain "I yelled. The pain I felt grew more intense as the minutes flew by. My pledge and oath to never allow my family to get hurt again was the only thing fuelling my endurance. This is my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove to Mia that I was all she needed to have a good life. As I got hit by that bullet the pain was nothing compared to the thought of losing my family. As I drove the car, my vision became bloody, my mind was constantly fighting my body not to give out before I could get Mia and the kids to safety. All I could hear was Mia and the boys crying, their tears made me more determined. “Azek please stop your bleeding, let me get help” Mia's words sounded like a fading call to make me falter and fail in my quest to protect my family. “Don't worry my love, I will get you and the kids to safety” I said in my mind. She didn't see the determination I had to get to safety. Even if I died I would die a happy and fulfilled man cause I knew I prote
Mia’s POV“Azek are you okay?” I had to ask him because he wasn't looking okay. He just stared at me and the kids, mute and silent. I found this awkward. Was he okay? I asked myself. I watched him closely for some time and it dawned on me that Azek didn't recognize me nor the kids.I didn't believe it at first as it felt like a weird thought but the more I observed him, the more he acted strange. My heart was filled with gratitude and joy, seeing my kids and my entire family reunite. Azek had put his life on the line to make sure we all were safe. It was several hours after the gunfight and Azek’s operation, I suddenly remembered that he must be hungry. As he hasn't eaten anything since the day began. “What would you like to eat Azek, can I get you anything?” I asked him. He just stared at me and was completely mute. No reaction or sound. I waved my hands at him trying to break the stare but he didn't. I flicked my fingers but he still stared at me like he was a statue or somethin
Mia’s POVThe minutes felt like eternity, as I sat with Liam and Lewis by my side. Azek would be fine! I repeatedly said in my mind. Repeating those words gave me a sense of hope and courage. Azek can't just leave me with the kids and all the evil of this world, he needs to come back. This turn of events plagued my mind with horrible thoughts. After a while, a nurse came out to the reception area. I recognised her, she was one of the nurses handling Azek. I immediately got up and walked towards her. “Please what are the results of the brain scans?” I asked with a feeble tone. She had a worried look on her face and she let out a deep sigh. “The results are still undergoing evaluation. Once they are cleared the doctor will relay the result to you. Please ma’am be calm and patient and let us do our jobs” the nurse said softly. Her words were intended to calm me down but instead, it increased the anxiety I was running away from. I walked back to my seat, Liam once again said my facial
Mia’s POVAs I walked in, documents and papers were scattered all over the table, the room well-lit and occupied with cabinets and shelves. Was he looking for something? I asked myself. “Please forgive my untidied office, being all over the place for some days now” he said to me as he noticed I was scanning the room. He offered me a seat, his voice had a feeling of urgency and seriousness. I took my seat and looked at him. She ran through a bit of details and information they had gotten from some of the hoodlums they captured at the gunfight. “We need your statement so we can compare and contrast with the information we've gotten so far. So please can you do a little but detailed recap on what happened at the exchange?” he said to me in a very serious tone. I began the tale from when I got the phone call to come get my kids down to the point the kids were released and they tried to shoot at me when I fled with the kids. As I spoke I realized how heavy my words were. Each word fe
Reed’s POV“You better cooperate with the police” the prison Warder yelled at me as he unlocked my cell. Since my arrival at the prison, he had always treated me like I was some hardened criminal. But deep down I felt immense remorse for all I had done. I allowed my emotions to push me into signing a deal with the devil without weighing the consequences. I sat on the bunk bed, soaking in the guilt that ate my sanity slowly. All I could think of was the people I had hurt in the course, of executing the will of Chloe. The prison warder informed me that I had an interrogation session with an inspector. Before this, I had undergone multiple interrogation sessions, each one more dreadful than the last. “Hey, step out of the cell and walk down the hallway to the last room on your left” the prison warder directed me like I didn't know the drill. He finished his sentence, but I didn't make any move, I just sat there burying myself in guilt and self-hate. I just wanted to be left alone. “Mo
Chloe's POV“What is wrong with Marcus?” I asked myself these questions expecting a vivid answer, but they remained floating around in my mind. All my efforts in contacting Marcus kept heating dead ends. The psychological pressure made me flutter, draining my confidence and gradually bringing me to the brink of anxiety and fear. Failure wasn't an option at this point, additionally I had come too far to give up now. My conversation with my mom led me to see the eruption of the concealed desperation she has been holding in. Over the course of days, my mom has been calling to pester me. Always questioning my next move, the more I listened to her, the depressed I became. Her alliance with Mr. and Mrs. Mendez made it difficult to think as they were constantly on my neck. Constantly reminding me of my failed past efforts. After some time of thinking about my messed up life, I got a call from the contact I requested to contact Marcus. My phone rang loudly, breaking the silence I sat in.
Mia's POV “Lewis! Liam! Can you both come downstairs and have your breakfast ?” I yelled from the sitting room to the boys who were upstairs playing in their rooms. It was a bright morning, and the light from the sun cast a Golden hue on the house. The tension I and the boys felt on our arrival, had faded into a more comfortable feeling. It was indeed a safe house. As I prepared breakfast, my thoughts drifted into the trauma I experienced at the hospital. Flashbacks of Azek surrounded by nurses and doctors trying to save his life, replayed in my mind. These thoughts drained me emotionally. I had done so many things trying to get my mind off my anxiety, but all my efforts to achieve peace of mind proved fruitless. I guess being the soul Bond between family at critical times was exhausting. Despite the settled feeling of comfort and safety, my mind was still roaming, my heart pounding with anxiety about Azek’s condition. I wasn't sure if he had been moved or if he was still at
Azek's POV “Daniel ?” I asked more to myself than him. I tried to sit upright but the intense pain that surged through my body made it difficult to move. My memory will still foggy, the headache intensified, and my stomach twisted with worry. The young man, who had introduced himself as Daniel was a familiar face. But my current mental State didn't allow me to think. According to his introduction, he knew me and my family, so I decided to ask him about Mia. “Where is Mia ?” I asked him, my voice slightly elevated and strained, “you have to tell me where she is”.Daniel gave a loud sigh before answering me and his face laced with worry and concern. “Stop bothering your mind” he said, “you have to be calm” “Why were they hiding Mia's location from me” I asked myself. Everybody kept telling me to be calm. I was gradually getting to the limit of my patience, as all my efforts to get to Mia proved fruitless. Daniel noticed my anger. He glanced at me with hesitation and concern, she
Azek’s POV“What happened to me” was the question I had been asking myself for several days. I tried shaking off the foggy feeling I felt in my head as I woke up. I blinked countless times, but the haze didn’t clear up. My memory was cloudy, making it difficult to remember anything. The more I tried to think, the more intense this throbbing pain I felt at the back of my head. “Where am I” I finally forced some words out of my mouth after what felt like days of being mute. I have never felt such disorientation in my life. I was blind mentally. I opened my eyes and scanned the room. It was dimply lit, and I could barely hear any sound, except the sound of the heart rate monitor attached to me. “Was I in the hospital?” I blinked countless more times, forcing my articulation to come alive. I knew I was still alive, but a part of my brain felt dead. After a couple of minutes of laying still on the bed, my memories started coming in blurred fragments. Faces and actions of different peop
Mia's POV “Mummy, where are we going?” Lewis asked as we began our drive in the car. I sat there, sandwiched between Liam and Lewis. They both stared at me with confused faces. I couldn't bring myself to explain what was happening. I didn't understand fully. All I knew was Chloe intended to take my life. The more I gave the situation some thought, the more I felt a void form in my guts. Daniel had hurriedly whisked us away from the hospital, leaving Azek without any word of explanation and this was unfortunate for him. What if he started looking for us? His condition might worsen due to our absence. “We are going to someplace safe for now, it's not for long. We will see Daddy soon" I explained what was left of my shattered mind to Lewis. The drive was awkwardly quiet, the only dominant sound was the soft humming of the car engine. Liam on the other side of the car was quietly scanning the road Intensely. He behaved like he could sense that something was wrong. I could see him glan
Mia's POV Daniel’s sudden appearance made the room grow in tension. His shaky hands, widened eyes, and standing hair all have off the unnerving heaviness that filled the room. “You all have to leave now !, like immediately move” Daniel exclaimed, breaking the awakened silence that accompanied his entrance. He puffed like he sprinted all the way here. “What do you mean?” I asked Daniel, my voice filled with dread and fear. I'm a split second, my mind raced through the worst scenarios. Daniel's urgency was about Chloe, but he was too unsettled to explain. “Calm down, breathe, and explain to us what you mean,” Natalia said, she was confused by his unusual behavior and words. Daniel took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He closed his eyes and took some time to breathe. He shortly opened his eyes and spoke, this time a bit calmer. “I went to talk with someone who knew Chloe very well – Marcus, he said Chloe is planning something huge and would strike anytime soon. She might com
Mia’s POV “Hey boys, you both need to stop playing around. There are a lot of things you would rather not break in here” I said to Liam and Lewis. They both were playing happily in the wardroom where Azek lay on his sick bed. The tension in the hospital had reduced after the news of the brain scans and Azek’s response to treatment and overall improvement in his health. They seemed a bit happier after they spent some days with Natalia back at the mansion. I watched them play and smile despite the traumatic situation we found ourselves. I glanced at Azek; he, too, was enjoying the sight of the boys playing; I could see him wish he could stand up and join them to play. His eyes were fixed on the boys, and gradually a wide and bright smile grew on his face. It’s been a few days and I still haven’t gotten any word from Daniel. He told me about his plan to look for someone who had valid information about Chloe’s whereabouts. Well, maybe he hasn’t found someone yet. I said to myself, tryi
Daniel's POV I exclaimed out of excitement in my mind, but I held my composure. I couldn't afford to celebrate too Early. We still had bigger fish to fry. “ I need everything! Where is she hiding, who is her possible alias, and what's her next move? I need it all Marcus !" I exclaimed! He leaned forward resting his cuffs on the metal table. I immediately brought out a small jotter and a pen ready to take notes. “ She's been lying low in an abandoned penthouse in the East of town. And as for her next move she's currently spying on Mia and her family at the hospital. She might have sent someone to poison Mia already. She has been talking about me for weeks, and if that doesn't work, she plans to go to the hospital herself,” he revealed. As he spoke, I wrote down every detail I deemed useful. My stomach twisted, and my ears hurt from listening to him. “So how do we get to her, storm the penthouse? Or do we wait for her to show face at the hospital? And how soon do you think she wou