"Goodnight."
After hanging up, Anthea sat quietly holding her phone for a while. Eventually, she placed it back on the nightstand and collapsed backward onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. I watched her. The lamplight outlined her soft, lonely silhouette.
I didn't understand. I'd told her she could see Olei anytime, take him out. And yesterday she'd asked for my help—I'd replaced her door and windows, and her attitude toward me had improved.
I thought she was starting to trust me. But she still wanted custody of Olei. Still guarded against me. Still turned to another man.
I rubbed my temples hard, bitterness flooding through me.
The next afternoon,I drove to pick up Olei from school.
The Bentley pulled out of the manor gates and merged into traffic.As I drove, I habitually checked the rearview mirror. Years of combat had trained me to notice anything out of place.
A gray Ford had been following me since I hit the main street, staying several car lengths back. Not too close, not too far, changing lanes naturally. Tomaso's people? Or one of my other enemies? Either way, if they'd tracked me this far, it meant Anthea and Olei weren't safe anymore.
My expression went cold. I jerked the wheel, turning into an alley. The sedan followed. I accelerated, took several sharp turns, then came out on another road. In the rearview mirror, the Ford was gone. I'd lost it.
I sped up, heading toward the school. When I arrived, the bell had just rung. Cars clustered around the entrance. Kids burst out carrying backpacks, faces lit with joy.
I parked by the entrance, got out, and scanned the surroundings. Quickly spotted the problem. In the van parked diagonally across from the school gate, the driver kept glancing my direction. The moment I looked his way, he looked away.
They'd already gotten their goddamn hands near the school. I pulled my gaze back just as Anthea came out holding Olei's hand, a gentle smile on her lips.
"Dad!" Olei saw me, tried to pull Anthea toward me.
But when Anthea spotted me, her smile faded. She stopped walking. I knew she was trying to draw boundaries with me now. My heart twisted. I strode toward them, stopped in front of them.
I ruffled Olei's hair first, then looked at Anthea. "I'll drive you back."
"No need, I can—" She started to refuse.
I didn't let her finish. I stepped forward and pulled her into my arms. Her faint scent hit my senses, addictive. Her body went rigid instantly, hands instinctively pressing against my chest, trying to push me away in panic.
"What are you doing?" She frowned, struggling hard. "Let go!"
I tightened my hold, lowered my head near her ear, hot breathhitting it. Her ear flushed red almost immediately. I wanted to bite it so badly.
"Listen, Anthea." I dropped my voice low, tone turning serious. "In that white van over there, someone's watching us."
Her movements stopped.
"Use your peripheral vision. Four o'clock behind me," I said.
Using me as cover, she scanned that direction.
"I see it. Who are they?" Her voice trembled slightly. She was scared. "Are they after Olei?"
"They're probably sent by one of my enemies," I answered, tried to reassure her. "But don't worry. I won't let you or Olei get hurt."
She nodded, relief washing over her.
"Get in the car first." I released her, scooped up Olei. "I'll explain on the way."
This time, she didn't refuse.
As the car pulled away from the school, I saw the van start up in the rearview mirror and follow. I didn't try to lose them yet. Kept a normal speed, let them tail me. Couldn't spook them now—not with Anthea and Olei in the car.
"Silas, what's going on?" Anthea sat in the passenger seat, voice low so she wouldn't scare Olei in his car seat behind us. "Is it Tomaso's people again?"
