“They won’t let you take him. They have strict instructions from me.”
I jumped into my car as my heart pounded. I needed to keep him talking. I grabbed the burner phone I hid in the dashboard and texted Alex to send someone as soon as possible to Lucas’s school.
“You’d be surprised how easily they’ll hand him over, especially if I have a gun with me. Whose life do you think they would choose, his… or theirs?”
The line went dead.
I called the number back, but he did not pick up. Panic flooded me as I sent the number to Alex to track it and called him.
“Nyah, we’re on the way. We’ll be there in less than five minutes.”
“He’s there, and he has a gun,” I screamed into the phone as I zigzagged through the streets, horns blaring behind me. “He’s already there.”
Reaching the school minutes later, I slammed on the brakes. My tires screeched as the car came to a stop. I jumped out and ran toward Alex. “Where’s Lucas?” I yelled, looking back and forth between him and the teachers. “Alex, where is he?” My lips trembled as fear clawed its way up my throat.
“I’m sorry, Nyah,” he said, looking down. “He took him.”
My heart stopped. I could not breathe. My mouth went dry as my world closed in on itself.
“How could you?” I demanded, staring at the teachers. “How could you let this happen? How could you let him take Lucas away?”
My phone rang.
It was Caleb.
“Caleb… Lucas… He took Lucas…”
“Yes, I know. I took him… remember? To the park with Cooper and Oreo.”
“WHAT?” My hands shook violently. “What are you talking about? You took him?”
He must have realized then that I had no idea, because I heard him say something to Taylor and tell him to turn the car around.
“You have Lucas? You have Lucas. Oh my God! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought Lucas told you when I spoke to him,” he said softly. “I was taking him for lunch and then to the park to play. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
I hung up and told Alex that Caleb had him. Then I turned to the teachers. “Why didn’t you tell me it was Caleb who came to pick him up? Why didn’t you tell them?” I pointed to the policemen.
“Well, I was trying to tell you that when you came, but you were screaming, and then your cell phone rang,” the teacher explained. “I was giving them a description of Caleb as well.”
Minutes later, Caleb pulled over, and Lucas jumped out.
I ran to him and hugged him tightly. “Are you okay, Lucas?” I checked him all over. “Please don’t ever do that to me again.” I squeezed him again. “Why didn’t you tell me that Caleb was coming to pick you up today for lunch?”
He looked at me with tears in his eyes, scared. “I’m so sorry, Mama, I forgot. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m really, really sorry.”
After reassuring him, I asked him to wait in the car with Taylor. Then I took Caleb aside.
He started talking fast. “Look, I’m sorry. I should have told you myself and checked with you first. I should have messaged you and let you know what I was planning?—”
I didn’t let him finish. I stepped into him and clung to him, my fingers curling into his jacket as if he were the only solid thing left in the world. My body was still shaking, the adrenaline refusing to fade, but the moment his arms wrapped around me, something inside me loosened.
I needed him more than I wanted to admit—his touch, his warmth, the steady way he held me. In his arms, it felt like everything would befine. I knew the feeling was temporary, but for those few seconds, I wanted it to last forever. The past disappeared. There was no betrayal, no fear, no chaos.
Only him, and the slow, steady rhythm of my breathing against his chest.
“You okay, Nyah?” he asked quietly.
