Chapter 229

Olivia

Nathan’s heavy sigh filled the silent room, echoing in the vast space between us. It was a sigh laden with a thousand words, a thousand fears. Each time he inhaled, the weight on his shoulders seemed to grow heavier.

His hesitation was clear, but so was my resolve.

“If that’s truly the path you want to follow,” he began, his voice slow and deliberate, each word chosen with care, “then I guess I don’t really have a choice in the matter, do I?”

The quiet intensity of his eyes locked onto mine, searching for any hint of falter. But they found none.

“Nathan,” I began, my tone matching his, “this is about me, too. It’s about our children. I can’t just stand back and let you face Ryan alone.”

His jaw tightened, a slight tremor betraying his struggle. “Liv,” he murmured, “I can’t bear the thought of anything happening to you.”

“You think I can handle it?” I countered, my voice rising with desperation. “You think I’m not equally as terrified at the idea of you walking out that door to meet him?”

We both glanced instinctively towards the corner where our twins, Elliot and Aurora, lay. Their innocence and youth stood in stark contrast to the dark world we were navigating.

A soft chuckle escaped Nathan’s lips, but it was devoid of any real humor. “Look at us,” he mused. “Arguing about who’s more afraid of losing the other. This is exactly what Ryan wants.”

I sighed, the reality of our situation pressing down on me. “Then let’s not give it to him.”

His gaze returned to mine, softer now. After what felt like an eternity, he nodded.

“Alright,” he finally said. “But on one condition. You keep your distance from Ryan. And if it looks bad, if things start to unravel, you run. Do you hear me? You run, Olivia.”

His earnest plea tugged at my heartstrings. The very thought of abandoning him was unthinkable. But for him, I whispered, “I promise.”

Although deep down, I had absolutely no intentions of leaving Nathan behind if things got hairy.

The next hour was a flurry of preparation. Maps were spread across the dining table, phones buzzing with messages and updates. I packed a bag with essentials, while Nathan made calls, his voice hushed but commanding.

At one point, as I watched him from across the room, a pang of fear gripped me.

“Nathan,” I murmured, approaching him tentatively, “are you sure about this?”

He looked up, his ocean eyes meeting mine. “Am I sure about facing Ryan? No. But am I sure about doing everything in my power to keep our family safe? Always.”

I hugged him then, needing to feel the reassuring beat of his heart against mine.

…

The muted glow of the warm morning sunlight washed over the nursery, bathing Elliot and Aurora in a soft radiance. Their serene faces were a stark contrast to the tempest of emotions raging within me.

I approached Elliot, brushing a stray curl from his forehead, marveling at how delicate he looked. Bending down next to Aurora, I pressed my lips gently to her forehead, allowing my tears to trickle down and merge with her soft skin.

The door creaked softly, and Angela stepped in. Her face, usually so calm, was a canvas of concern today.

"They look so peaceful," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

A lump formed in my throat. “I know it’s stupid, but I keep thinking that I won’t see them again,” I admitted, my voice barely above a murmur. “It’s just a meeting, but I know Ryan. I know he’ll have a trick up his sleeve if we don’t fulfill his request.”

Angela moved closer, wrapping an arm around me. “You’ll see them again, Liv. You’ll be back before dinnertime. I promise. In the meantime, I’ll guard them like they’re my own.”

Before I could reply, the heavy thud of boots echoed through the corridor, approaching fast. Two guards from Nathan’s team appeared in the doorway, their expressions grave.

“We’re in position,” one of the guards reported. “The house is secured.”

A nod was all Angela offered in response. “Thank you.”

It was time. My heart ached as I hugged Angela. “Keep them safe,” I whispered, the weight of the request pressing down on me.

“With my life,” she vowed.

Nathan waited for me at the foot of the stairs, his hand outstretched. Taking it, I felt the familiar warmth of his fingers entwining with mine. The house, with its walls echoing laughter and memories, seemed so distant now.

As we moved towards the door, I hesitated, my gaze instinctively traveling back to the nursery windows. Memories of bedtime giggles, tender lullabies, and soft cuddles flooded me, and I felt an overwhelming surge of pain and longing.

Sensing my turmoil, Nathan gently tilted my face towards him. His eyes, usually so confident, held a hint of vulnerability. “Liv,” he murmured, his breath warm against my face, “this is your last chance. You don’t need to come.”

I shook my head, my resolve still unwavering. “No,” I murmured. “We need to do this together. You and me.”

Nathan paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. I almost expected him to change his mind at the last minute and tell the guards to hold me back while he left without me, but he didn’t. Instead, he nodded gently, giving my hand a squeeze. “We will get through this. I promise to keep our world safe. Ryan will never tear us apart.”

I grasped his shirt, desperately seeking the comfort of his presence. “Promise me that after all this, it’ll still be us—a family.”

Drawing me into his embrace, Nathan sealed his promise with a lingering kiss. “Always,” he whispered, his voice carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken vows. “Ryan won’t get the best of us today. Or ever, for that matter.”

The drive to the meeting spot was thick with anticipation. The air in the car was tense, making it hard to breathe. Nathan kept his focus on the road, hands gripping the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity. The car’s engine hummed its steady rhythm, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions churning within both of us.

Behind us, another car drove along the road, filled with Nathan’s men; Levi was among them. They were to keep a distance during the meeting, but step in if anything got out of hand.

“Do you think he’ll come alone?” I asked, breaking the silence.

Nathan shook his head. “I doubt it,” he said. “If we’re bringing men, he’ll likely bring twice as many.”

The car wound its way through the tree-lined roads. Soon, the town gave way to more desolate surroundings.

Our destination was an old, abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, a place haunted by memories of a time when Nathan, Alvin, and I used to sneak out there in our early teenage years, when we first started rebelling, to drink stolen beers and listen to music.

Back when everything used to be simple, right before my dad and I were evicted.

As we neared, I could make out the silhouette of the warehouse against the sky, its windows dark and hollow, like the eyes of a long-dead creature. Overhead, the clouds began to darken, signifying an oncoming storm.

“Looks like we're the first to arrive,” Nathan murmured, slowing the car.

But as we rounded the corner, my heart stopped. There, in the dim light, stood a solitary figure. Even from this distance, I could recognize the unmistakable frame of Ryan, leaning against a rusted barrel, seemingly lost in thought.

And he was alone. Or so it seemed.

“It’s too quiet,” Nathan whispered, echoing my own sentiments as he steered the car along the narrow forest path. “Something’s not right.”