<b>Chapter </b>288


    OLIVIA’S POV


    73


    St vouchers


    “Please, uncle, there’s no need to do this,” I said, my voice trembling even as I forced myself to take slow, careful steps backward. My body screamed at me to run, but my mind told me that sudden movements could trigger him, and then I would stand no chance. My heart hammered inside my chest, each <b>beat </b>a reminder of how fragile this moment was.


    Jose’s lips curled into a thin smile, one that held no warmth, only malice and certainty. “You think I’m here for you?” he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “Oh no, Olivia. We’re both here for your son. Once we have him, we’ll have everything we both want.”


    His words hit me like a thunderbolt. My breath caught in my throat as realization sank in. Charlie. He was still in his room upstairs, likely lost in his own little world with his headphones on, oblivious to the storm raging around him. My stomach twisted painfully. He probably hadn’t heard a single sound of the chaos unfolding below, and now I was hearing the most terrifying truth of all – they were both here to take him.


    But why? What did Charlie have to do with any of this? My son was innocent. What sick game were they ying to drag him into this nightmare?


    Even from inside the house, I could hear the muffled thuds and rattling sounds of Isadora mming against the locked kitchen door, desperately trying to break free. Each thump sent a chill crawling down my spine. My eyes darted toward the gateman’s post, silently praying for him toe running, to help, to be a lifeline in this madness. But then I saw him and my heart froze.


    The gatemany sprawled on the ground, motionless. His body twisted unnaturally, his chest rising and falling faintly. He was unconscious.


    My gaze snapped back to Jose. Did he do this? At his age? The thought rattled me, but the evidence was right there. Even as an old man, he still had enough strength, enough ruthlessness, to take down another man, If he was capable of that, then fighting him head–on would be suicide. My only option was to think smart, move smart, and pray for a way out.


    “I’m not letting any of you near my son,” I spat, my voice steadier than I felt inside. My hands were shaking, my legs weak, but the thought of Charlie fueled me with a desperate courage. Without giving myself another second to hesitate, I spun around and tried to dart back inside the house.


    I didn’t make it far.


    A searing pain shot through my scalp as my hair was yanked backward with brutal force. The sudden pull wrenched my head back so violently that I cried out in pain, stumbling as I wed instinctively at the hand gripping me.


    “Ahhh…let go!” I screamed, my fingers digging into his wrist, trying to pry him off.


    But Jose’s grip was iron. His voice came from right beside me, low and venomous. “You’re not going anywhere, niece.”


    Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes<b>, </b>not just from the pain but from the hopelessness pressing down on me. My mind raced wildly, grasping at anything, any way to break free. Then, like a spark in the dark, an idea


    <b>11:48 </b><b>Sat</b>, <b>Sep </b>27 M


    flickered in my mind.


    :


    673


    655 voucliers.


    I steadied myself, gathering what little strength I had left. With his grip pulling me backward, his stance was wide, his legs spread just slightly behind me. I raised my own leg, drawing in every ounce <i>of </i>determination, and kicked backward with all my might. My heel mmed into his dick, hitting him directly on his testicles.


    He howled in pain, his grip loosening instantly as his body buckled. Jose copsed onto his knees, clutching the spot I’d struck. His face contorted with rage and agony, and for a moment, just a moment, I felt the faintest surge of triumph.


    And then, in the distance, I heard the faint, blessed sound of sirens wailing. The police. The sound was faint but growing stronger with each second, and I knew then that Adrian and the police must be close, so close I could almost breathe again. Relief surged through me, igniting a spark of hope in the darkness.


    Wasting no time, I bolted back inside the house, my legs carrying me as fast as they could. My chest heaved as I raced up the stairs, my one thought clear as crystal: Charlie. I needed to get to him before they did.


    I pushed his bedroom door open, my breath ragged. Just as I’d feared, he was sitting on the floor, his headphones firmly on, the glow of his game console lighting up his focused face. He hadn’t heard a thing. Not my screams, not the fight, not the danger lurking just outside.


    “Charlie!” I rushed forward, my heart breaking at how unaware he was of the storm surrounding us. I grabbed him by the arm, tugging him up so quickly that his console fell from his hands and ttered loudly onto the floor. He jolted, his eyes wide with confusion.


    “Mom?” he managed, his voice small.


    “We need to leave now,” I said firmly, hoisting him up and clutching him close against me. My arms trembled, but I didn’t loosen my grip. He was my everything, and I wasn’t letting him go.


    By the time we reached the front door again, police cars had swarmed into the estate, their shing lights cutting through the tension like des of salvation. Officers were everywhere, their voices booming as they barkedmands. My eyes darted across the chaos until I saw him.


    Jose was already pinned down, his hands shackled behind him as two officers hauled him roughly to his feet. Seeing him arrested, powerless now, sent a rush of vindication through me.


    And then I saw Adrian. He was running toward me, his eyes filled with panic, fear, and something deeper, something that made my chest tighten.


    I set Charlie down gently on the ground just as Adrian reached me. Without a word, he wrapped me in a fierce embrace. His warmth enveloped me, steadying my trembling body.


    “You’re safe now,” he whispered, his voice rough, almost breaking. His arms tightened around me, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe it. I let myself feel safe.


    Behind him, a storm of officers rushed past, charging into the house to apprehend Isadora, but at that moment, I could barely focus on anything else. My life, every fear, every terror of the past few hours shed before my eyes, and suddenly I was overwhelmed by the weight of it all.


    I don’t know when it happened, but I clung to Adrian even tighter, my arms wrapping around him as though I could disappear inside his strength. Tears streamed freely down my cheeks, soaking into his shirt, but I didn’t


    11:48 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Sep 21 UNU


    t Ba vouchers.


    care. I needed this. I needed him.


    Then, a smaller hand slipped around me. I blinked, startled, and looked down. Charlie had wrapped his tiny arms around us both. His face pressed into me, innocent andforting, grounding me in a way nothing else could.


    Adrian and I exchanged a nce through my tears, both of us caught off guard by the simple purity of the gesture.


    –


    this


    Augh escaped me, soft and shaky, even as I continued to cry. It was absurd and beautiful all at once fragile, broken moment wrapped in a child’s unconditional love. Together, the three of us pulled into a single embrace.


    And for the first time in what felt like years, I felt whole again. Complete.


    <b><i>AD </i></b>


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