"Then it's settled." He says it like it's simple, like we're just a normal couple planning our future.
My hands have stopped shaking, I realize. The nausea has receded. Axel knows exactly what I need, a glimpse of something beyond this moment, a future where Elliot doesn't dominate every thought.
The radio crackles softly. "Target vehicle approaching from the east entrance."
Just like that, reality crashes back. My body tenses, fight-or-flight instinct surging. Axel's hand remains steady on mine, a silent anchor.
"I'm right here," he says, his voice low and certain. "Right beside you. Not in front of you."
I understand what he means. This is my battle. He's support, not shield.
A sleek black sedan pulls into the lot, headlights sweeping across our windshield. Even from here, I recognize Elliot's profile behind the wheel. My throat closes up, memories flashing like strobe lights, his cold smile when I discovered missing money from my accounts, his hand gripping my wrist too tight when I questioned him, his voice on the phone telling me to "get rid of it" when I called to tell him I was pregnant.
But something is different now. The memories come, but they don't drown me. They're just scenes from a past that no longer controls me.
"Ready?" Axel asks, his eyes checking my face.
I nod. "Let's end this."
We step out of the SUV together. The evening air is cool against my heated skin, damp with lingering rain. I straighten my shoulders as Elliot parks and exits his car.
He sees us immediately, his step faltering for just a second before that familiar smug smile spreads across his face. He's exactly as I remember, expensively dressed, perfectly groomed, radiating a confidence that once seemed charming but now looks hollow.
"Well, well," he calls, approaching with measured steps. "I didn't expect a welcoming committee."
Axel moves first, positioning himself slightly ahead of me, not blocking me, just creating a buffer. I step forward to stand beside him, refusing to hide.
"Hello, Elliot," I say, proud of how steady my voice sounds.
His eyes narrow, assessing the situation. I see the exact moment he notices our security team, the calculation that crosses his face as he weighs his options. Then his expression smooths out, that practiced charm sliding back into place.
"Sadie, darling. I was hoping we could talk privately before tomorrow's hearing." His gaze shifts to Axel, dismissive. "Family matters should stay within the family, don't you think?"
"That's why we're here," I say before Axel can respond. "To talk about family matters."
Elliot's smile doesn't reach his eyes. "I see you've brought backup." He nods toward Axel. "I didn't realize you needed a bodyguard these days."
"Not a bodyguard," Axel says calmly. "Just someone who cares about Sadie and Poppy's well-being."
Elliot's jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. He's not used to being challenged, especially not by another man. His eyes flick back to me, his expression softening in that manipulative way I once mistook for genuine care.
"Sadie," Elliot says, his voice dropping to that gentle tone he used to use when he thought I was being "difficult." "I think we should discuss this privately. Just you and me, like adults. For Poppy's sake."
Before I can respond, Axel steps forward, closing the distance between them in two quick strides. With a swift, controlled movement, he pushes Elliot's car door shut with his boot. The sound echoes through the parking lot, sharp and final.
"This won't be a private conversation," Axel says, his voice low but carrying easily in the evening air. There's nothing showy about his movements, no unnecessary intimidation, but the dominance is unmistakable.
Elliot's eyes widen slightly, that perfect mask slipping for just a second.
Axel reaches into his jacket and pulls out a thick manila envelope. "We know everything, Elliot. Or should I call you Daniel Peters? Or maybe Thomas Reese?"
Without ceremony, he tosses the envelope onto the hood of Elliot's car. Papers spill out, passport photos, bank statements, court documents.
"Seven women," Axel continues, his voice eerily calm.
"All with similar stories. Marriage, financial control, theft. And now Lisa Carrington is missing, along with her daughter. The FBI's already looking into that one."
I watch Elliot's face, cataloging every microexpression. The tightening around his eyes. The slight flare of his nostrils. The way his right hand flexes and then stills.
