He leaned in a little closer. “Pack what you want to take. Or leave it all I’ll buy you new clothes, a new crib, a new fucking minivan if you want it. But we’re leaving tonight. You and these kids are mine to look after now. And I’m not letting you stay one more hour in a house where that psycho thinks he can break down the door.”
Kylee looked down at Macy, whose breathing had started to calm. She nodded slowly. “Okay.”
Rio stood, still holding Kayla, and offered his other hand. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Kylee knelt in front of Jake Jr. and Macy in the hallway, her voice soft but full of a kind of nervous excitement that made both their eyes light up. “Okay, listen,” she said, brushing Macy’s curls from her face. “We’re going on a little trip, just for a while. So I need you both to go pack a bag. Just your favorite things, your comfiest clothes, your favorite toys, whatever makes you happy.”
Jake Jr. looked up at her, confused. “Are we going to the beach?”
Kylee smiled and nodded. “Something like that, baby. Somewhere sunny.”
Macy, clutching her stuffed unicorn, lit up. “Can I bring Sparkle?”
“Absolutely. Sparkle goes in first,” Kylee said, kissing her cheek. “Now go be my big helpers, okay? Pack quick!”
As they hurried down the hall, Kylee stood and moved swiftly to the bedroom. Kayla was asleep in her bassinet, her tiny chest rising and falling in soft, even breaths. Kylee stared at her for a moment, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions, fear, guilt, love, and above all, determination. She opened the closet and pulled out the biggest overnight bag she could find. In it, she stuffed just the essentials: a few of her own clothes, diapers, bottles, wipes,
Kayla’s sleep sack, the soft pink blanket she never slept without. She grabbed her old worn hoodie, the one that still smelled faintly like home, and tossed in her journal too. She paused before zipping it shut, catching her reflection in the mirror. She didn’t look like herself, tired, pale, and shaken but her eyes... her eyes were steady now. Focused. She took a breath and turned.
Rio was already loading things into the back of a sleek black SUV parked in the driveway. He had his private jet waiting at the airport and was moving like a man on a mission.
Kylee scooped Kayla into her arms and grabbed the bag. She walked down the hall just as Jake Jr. came running back out with his backpack stuffed so full it was barely zipped. “I brought my jersey, my game ball, and my Spider-Man guy!”
Macy followed, dragging her unicorn by the tail and clutching a fuzzy blanket. Kylee smiled, her heart swelling with both pain and pride. “Perfect,” she said. “You guys did awesome. Let’s go on our adventure.”
The SUV purred along the dark highway, headlights cutting through the night as they made their way toward the small private airport outside of town. Inside, the mood was an odd mix of exhaustion and adrenaline. Kayla snoozed peacefully in her car seat beside Kylee, and Macy leaned against her, thumb in
Her mouth and Sparkle the unicorn clutched tight. Jake Jr., on the other hand, was wide awake buzzing with energy as he bounced his legs and stared out the window. “My tummy’s growling,” he said, rubbing it dramatically. “I’m starving, like… so starving I might die.”
Rio chuckled from the front passenger seat and turned to glance back. “Good thing we’ve got a feast waiting for you on the plane then.”
Jake Jr.’s eyes widened. “Wait…what? What do you mean on the plane?”
“You didn’t know?” Rio grinned. “We’re taking my private jet. Have you ever been on a plane before?”
Jake Jr. practically launched out of his seat. “A real plane?! With wings and everything?!”
“Yup. Real wings. And snacks. And comfy seats. And movies.”
Jake Jr. turned to Kylee, face glowing. “Mommy, are we really flying on a plane?”
She nodded, gently brushing his hair back. “We are, baby. It’s gonna be an adventure.”
Jake Jr. turned his attention back to Rio. “Are you flying it?”
Rio laughed. “Not this time. I’ve got someone way better at it than me. But I’ll sit up front and look important.”
“You’re already important,” Jake Jr. said with the absolute honesty of a child. “You’re a rock star!”
“Damn right I am,” Rio said, giving him a playful wink.
Kylee smiled softly to herself. For the first time in what felt like forever, the fear gnawing at her chest eased. In this stolen moment, with her babies safe beside her and Rio holding the reins, she finally felt like she could breathe again.
Jake Jr. leaned back in his seat, already imagining the plane ride. “Do you think they’ll have pizza?”
“I’ll call the pilot right now,” Rio said, reaching for his phone. “We’ll make sure your wish is granted.”
Kylee caught his eye from the backseat. Thank you, she mouthed.
