<h4>Chapter 267: At The Tarmac</h4>


    In no time, Ric, Cammy, and Dn arrived at the airport tucked into a far corner part of the city.


    Ric walked with purpose, his hand on Cammy’s lower back, guiding her while she clutched Dn’s small hand tightly. The boy was still groggy from his nap in the car, but his eyes lit up at the sight of the sleek aircraft.


    The pilot gave Ric a subtle nod as they climbed the steps. Once inside, Cammy sank into a leather seat, holding Dn’s hand on herp.


    Ric remained standing, eyes sharp, scanning everything. The interior of the jet was luxurious but understated, with polished wood and dim lights that didn’t calm the storm brewing inside Ric.


    The engines started. Ric sat across from Cammy, trying to smile for Dn’s sake, but his jaw remained tight. Ten minutes passed. Then, fifteen until it reached thirty. Still, the ne didn’t move.


    Ric unbuckled and approached the cabin crew.


    "Why haven’t we taken off yet?" he asked in a low, forceful voice.


    The flight attendant looked ufortable. "We’re waiting on clearance from tower control, sir. They haven’t given us permission to depart."


    Ric’s stomach sank. Something was wrong. Very wrong.


    He walked back to his seat, knelt beside Cammy, and whispered, "Something’s off. Be ready for anything."


    Before she could respond, shing blue and red lights flooded through the jet’s small windows.


    Ric stood up instantly. Outside, police cars screeched to a stop around the ne. The airport ground crew backed away with hands in the air.


    Then came the knock on the aircraft door. Three hard pounds that felt like a judge’s gavel.


    "Open up! This is the police. We need to board the ne for inspection!"


    Ric rushed forward, blocking the path to the door. "Don’t open it!" he shouted to the crew.


    But it was toote.


    The pilot, forced by authority, triggered the door mechanism. A hiss of pressure, and the door opened. Officers stormed in with weapons drawn.


    Behind them, Duncan stood with smug satisfaction, arms crossed, Annie at his side with a hand on her hip. Their eyes locked onto Ric.


    "Get them!" Duncan barked.


    Two officers lunged at Ric, pinning his arms behind his back. He fought, tried to throw them off, but more officers piled on. Cammy screamed, standing in front of Dn protectively.


    "DON’T TOUCH MY SON!" she yelled, voice cracking as she was dragged back by another officer. Dn started crying hysterically.


    "MOMMY! MOMMY!"


    Cammy kicked, fought, tears streaming down her face. "LET ME GO! HE’S MY SON! YOU CAN’T TAKE HIM!"


    One officer shoved her hard, sending her sprawling to the floor.


    "Careful! She’s pregnant!" Ric roared, still pinned. "Be gentle with her, damn it! She’s carrying my child!"


    Annie and Duncan’s eyes widened at the sudden revtion, but their attention quickly switched back to Dn.


    Cammy sobbed as she tried to get up. Her hair fell in front of her face, her hands trembling.


    Duncan stepped forward, calm and cruel. He looked down at her with disdain.


    "You really thought you could hide him from me again?" he said, his voice like venom. "Not this time. I learned my lesson. I put GPS trackers in all his shoes and bags. You didn’t think I’d be fooled again, did you?"


    Cammy shook her head, helpless. "You’re a monster..."


    Annie walked over to Dn, still sobbing, and tried to pull him away.


    "NO! I WANT MY MOMMY! I WANT MY MOMMY!" he screamed, resisting.


    "Let him go! Please, just let me hold him!" Cammy pleaded, crawling toward them, only to be restrained again.


    Ric’s face turned red with rage. "This is not justice! She’s his mother! He belongs with her!"


    But the police ignored them. A woman from social services gently took Dn from Annie, but he kept thrashing, trying to get back to Cammy.


    "Mommy! Don’t let them take me! Mommy!" Dn sobbed, reaching out.


    Cammy screamed so loud it echoed through the cabin. She copsed into herself as the doors shut behind her son.


    The police dragged her and Ric toward the waiting cars. Duncan followed them, watching with an unreadable expression. Cammy twisted in the officer’s grip to get onest glimpse of Dn, but the view was blocked.


    Inside the police car, Cammy pressed her forehead against the cold ss, tears falling like rain.


    "I’ll get him back," she whispered to herself. "No matter what it takes, I’ll get him back."


    Ric, beside her, blood trickling from his lip, turned his head to her.


    "We’re not done yet," he said with quiet fury. "They’ve dered war. And I swear, Cammy—I will burn down everything to get you both free."


    Cammy didn’t reply. She just nodded, broken but not defeated.


    Inside the sleek ck car that sped away from the airport, Dn’s sobs pierced the heavy silence. He sat wedged between Annie and Duncan in the back seat, his face red, streaked with tears, and contorted in rage and heartbreak.


    "Sweetheart, please, calm down. It’s alright now, you’re with us," Annie said gently, reaching out to hug him.


    But Dn wasn’t having it. He jerked away and, in a fit of fury and confusion, mmed his forehead into Annie’s face with a hard headbutt.


    Annie yelped in pain and instinctively clutched her nose.


    Before she could recover, Dn let out another furious cry and kicked her hard in the stomach—right where her five-month baby bump had begun to show.


    Annie screamed.


    "Dn!" Duncan shouted, grabbing his son away from Annie. "That’s enough!"


    But Dn was inconsble, his little fists pounding and his legs thrashing.


    Without another word, Duncan pulled him onto hisp and gave him three sharp ps on the butt. "Stop it!" he bellowed, his face taut with fury and desperation.


    The force of the reprimand stunned Dn. He went quiet in an instant, his sobs turning into softer, broken cries as he copsed against the back of the seat, defeated and drained.


    Annie, meanwhile, gasped in pain, her arms wrapped tightly around her belly. "Duncan, my stomach—it hurts! He kicked me hard! I need to go to the hospital. Now!"


    "Driver!" Duncan barked. "Turn around—head to the nearest hospital now! Step on it!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    The car made a sharp U-turn, speeding through the traffic as panic settled over them.


    Anniey back in her seat, sweat beading her forehead, her breathsing out short and quick. "I swear, if something happens to this baby, I’ll never forgive that brat!"


    "Just stay calm," Duncan muttered, pressing Dn tighter to his chest, though the boy was now silent, his tears soaking into Duncan’s shirt. "Everything’s going to be fine. You and the baby, both."


    But behind Duncan’s clenched jaw, even he couldn’t shake the icy fear creeping up his spine. And in his arms, Dn closed his eyes—his soul shattered, his cries muffled, whispering one word again and again: "Mommy..."