One of Cassian’s men goes down, blood spreading across his shoulder. The other one drops Liam and pulls a weapon. Finn is still in someone’s arms, being dragged toward the SUV. He’s kicking and screaming, reaching for Nadia.
Then three of our security personnel tackle the man, holding him. Finn falls and hits the pavement hard. I reach him first.Drop to my knees and pull him into my arms. He’s sobbing, face red, a scrape on his elbow from where he fell.
Liam runs to us. I grab him too, pressing both boys against my chest. “I’ve got you,” I say into their hair. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
More gunfire. Cassian’s team is retreating. Our security has them outnumbered. Parents are running, dragging their children away from the chaos. Someone’s calling the police.
I look up.
Cassian is standing beside the second SUV, fifty feet away. Our eyes meet across the driveway.
He’s watching us. Watching me hold our sons while they sob into my shoulders.
For three seconds, nobody moves.
Then Declan shouts something and pulls Cassian toward the vehicle.
They’re gone before I can breathe.
Nadia reaches us, drops down beside me. “Are you hurt? Are the boys hurt?”
“No. We’re okay.”
“Are you sure?”
I check them both quickly. Finn has a scrape on his elbow. Liam is shaking but otherwise fine.
“We’re okay,” I say again.
Julian is there suddenly, breathing hard, gun in his hand. “Get them inside. Now.”
Nadia helps me up. We move toward the entrance, security forming a wall around us.
The boys won’t let go of me. Finn has his face buried against my neck, still crying. Liam is holding on to my shirt so tight his knuckles are white.
We get inside the building. Teachers are trying to calm down the other children. Parents are demanding answers. Someone says the police are on their way.
Julian pulls me into an empty classroom and closes the door. “We’re leaving. Back entrance. Before the police get here.”
“What about?—”
“I’ll handle the school. Money will keep them quiet. But we need to go now.”
Nadia appears in the doorway. “Cars are ready.”
We move through the school halls, past classrooms where children are pressed against windows watching. Past teachers who look terrified. Past the principal who tries to stop us, but Julian waves him off.
The back entrance opens into a service alley where three vehicles wait, engines running.
We get the boys into the middle car. I sit between them, holding both their hands. Julian sits up front. Nadia is in the third vehicle with additional security.
We pull away just as police sirens wail in the distance.
Finn sniffles occasionally but stays quiet. Liam stares at nothing. I look down at him. His face is pale, eyes too wide.
“Liam, baby. Are you okay?”
He doesn’t answer, just sniffles.
