Being at the bottom of a human pile wasn’t exactly comfortable.Breathing was optional at this point, but Azlyn didn’t dare move.Didn’t blink.Didn’t breathe too deep.She lay perfectly still, her body coiled tight with fear, waiting—praying—for someone to say the word:safe.
Griffin, naturally, chose that moment to cry.
Of course he did.He was flat on his back, staring up into the serious face of a hulking stranger.Add in the rumble of the engine, the squeal of tires, the alarming tilt of the SUV, and the poor baby had every right to wail.Thankfully, the carrier cradled his head safely while the rest of the vehicle cornered like it was being chased by a missile.
“It’s okay that he’s crying, ma’am,” the guard said gently.“He’s safe.I promise you—I won’t let anything happen to your child.”
Azlyn may have nodded.Or blinked.It was hard to tell.Her body was frozen in fear, her thoughts stuck in a tight loop ofwhat ifs.She kept still.Still as stone.Waiting for someone—anyone—to tell her this nightmare was over.
Several turns later, the guard finally shifted, lifting himself off her with a soft grunt.He gave a short nod.“All clear.”
Everyone reached for seatbelts like it was a race.Zayn helped Azlyn sit upright before strapping himself in, all while the driver wove them through traffic on I-90 like he was auditioning for an action movie.At this point, Azlyn didn’t even question where they were headed.It was clearly the airport—and fast.
“Can I hold my son now?”she asked, voice a little hoarse.
The guard glanced to Zayn.They had a silent exchange—a subtle flicker of communication Azlyn couldn’t interpret.But she knew what the answer would be even before Zayn turned to her.
“Wait until we’re on the plane, love,” Zayn told her softly, reaching for her hand.“We’ll be safe in the air.If something goes wrong before then, it’s safer if Griffin is strapped to someone wearing body armor.”
Azlyn swallowed her protest.That made sense.Terrifying, but logical.“Oh,” she breathed, and nodded.
She stared out the window, watching Chicago blur by in a flash of steel and sky.Her mind spun.Was this because of her?Had something she’d done triggered this chaos?Some bit of information she’d uncovered?Something Olivia had said during one of their shows?
It was a chilling thought.One she kept to herself.
They reached O’Hare Airport faster than she thought possible, breezing through a series of security gates that didn’t even slow them down.Airport personnel waved them through like royalty.Who the hell had Zayn called to make this happen?
Their SUV rolled straight up to an enormous private jet, just as the staircase was being wheeled into place.
“Let’s move!”the guard with Griffin barked.
Doors flew open.Guards fanned out.Azlyn, Zayn, and the man with Griffin ran for the stairs while the others formed a tight, moving wall around them.
Inside, the plane gleamed like a five-star hotel.Zayn directed her to a leather seat at the rear.
“Seatbelt.Now.”
She didn’t argue.
The guard with Griffin slid into a seat nearby, unbothered by the baby’s escalating cries.He made soft, shushing sounds, but Griffin was having none of it.He wanted his mother.
Which sent a fresh wave of panic through her.
Food.
Griffin didn’t get enough from breastfeeding alone.He was a little piglet, always hungry.She’d been supplementing with formula.But she hadn’t brought any.She hadn’t broughtanything.
Just as she opened her mouth to voice the panic swelling inside her, the engines roared to life.Azlyn turned her head, eyes widening.
A line of commercial planes sat on the runway…waiting.
But not them.
Zayn’s jet glided past them all, barely slowing before pivoting toward the runway like it had an express pass from God.
Moments later, the engines surged.The buildings of O’Hare blurred past, and before she could string together another anxious thought, the wheels lifted off the ground.
They were airborne.
