Chapter 109
Aria’s POV
Portland smelled different. Cleaner with pine trees and rain instead of exhaust and concrete.
The safe house sat on ten acres outside the city—a modern glass and wood structure hidden behind tall fir trees. Security cameras dotted the property, their red lights blinking in the early morning darkness.
“It’s big.” Noah pressed his face to the car window as his breath fogged the glass. “Is that our new house p>
“For now, baby.” I unbuckled him, my muscles stiff from the flight. The leather seat was cold under my fingers. “Just for a little while p>
“How long is a while?” He yawned, rubbing his eyes.
“I don’t know yet.” I lifted him out. His weight felt heavier than usual. Or maybe I was just exhausted. The night air bit at my cheeks, sharp and damp.
Damien carried our bags up the stone pathway. Motion sensors triggered lights, bright and sudden. I flinched, my heart jumping.
“It’s just the sensors.” He unlocked the door with a keycard. The beep echoed in the quiet. “The whole property is wired. If anyone gets within fifty feet, we’ll know p>
Inside, the house was cold. The heat hadn’t been on in months. Our footsteps echoed on hardwood floors.
“I’ll get the heat going.” Damien set down the bags with a heavy thud. “Make yourself comfortable p>
Noah wandered through the living room, his T-Rex dragging on the floor with a soft scraping sound. The furniture was covered in white sheets, ghost-like in the dim light.
“I don’t like it here.” His voice was small. “It’s scary p>
“It’s not scary, baby. It’s just new.” I pulled off the sheet covering the couch. Dust puffed into the air, making me cough. The particles caught in my throat. “See? Just regular furniture p>
“Can we go home?” He climbed onto the couch, the cushions sighing under his weight. “To our real home p>
“Soon.” I sat beside him, pulling him close.”I promise. Soon p>
But I didn’t know if that was true. The heat kicked on with a loud clunk. Warm air rushed through the vents, bringing the smell of dust and disuse.
Damien appeared with blankets, the fabric rough and musty in his arms. “Bedrooms are upstairs, there are three of them. Take your pick p>
“I want to sleep with Mama.” Noah burrowed into my side.
“That’s fine, baby.” I kissed his head, his hair soft against my lips. “We can share p>
“I’ll take the room across the hall.” Damien handed me a blanket. The wool was scratchy against my palms. “In case you need anything p>
“We’ll be fine.” I wrapped the blanket around Noah. “You should sleep too, you look exhausted p>
“I will. Later.” He moved to the windows, checking locks. Each one clicked and rattled. “After I make sure everything is secure p>
I carried Noah upstairs. The steps creaked under our weight, old wood protesting. The bedroom was simple—a queen bed, a dresser, one window overlooking the trees. Moonlight filtered through, pale and cold.
I laid him on the bed, tucking the blanket around him. The mattress was firm, the sheets cool. “Tell me a story.” He looked up at me with heavy eyes.
“What kind of story p>
“One with dinosaurs and a happy ending p>
“Okay.” I lay beside him, stroking his hair. The strands were soft between my fingers. “Once upon a time, there was a brave little dinosaur named Rex p>
He was asleep before I finished. I lay there, listening to his breathing. Slow and steady. The house creaked and settled around us. Outside, wind moved through the trees with a sound like rushing water as branches scratched against the window.
My phone buzzed. The vibration loud against the nightstand. Olivia.
You there? You safe?
We’re here. Safe. Noah’s asleep.
And you? How are you holding up?
I stared at the ceiling. A crack ran across it, branching like veins. How was I holding up?
I don’t know. Tired. Scared. Angry.
All normal. Call me tomorrow when you’re rested. Love you.
Love you too.
I set the phone aside and closed my eyes but sleep wouldn’t come.
Two Days Later
The routine was suffocating. Wake up, make breakfast. The coffee maker gurgled and hissed, play with Noah. Watch the security. Monitors, the screens glowing blue in the dim room, make lunch.
“I’m bored.” Noah sprawled on the living room floor, his dinosaurs scattered around him. The plastic clattered when he moved them. “There’s nothing to do p>
“You have all your toys.” I looked up from my laptop but the screen was too bright, making my eyes hurt. “And the backyard”
“I want to see my friends.” He sat up. “When can I go back to school p>
“Soon, baby p>
“You keep saying that.” His face crumpled. “But we never go anywhere, we just stay here forever and ever p>
“Noah”
“I hate it here!” He jumped up, tears streaming down his cheeks. Salt and frustration. “I want to go home! I want Tommy and Sofia and my real bed p>
“Hey.” I caught him as he ran past. His body was warm and trembling. “I know this is hard, but we’re safe here. That’s what matters p>
“I don’t care about safe!” He pulled away. “I care about fun! And friends! And” He sobbed, the sound wet and broken. “I just want see my friends p>
“I know.” I pulled him close, my own tears starting. Hot on my cheeks. “I know, baby. I’m sorry p>
Damien appeared in the doorway. His footsteps had been silent on the carpet. “Is everything okay p>
“No.” Noah turned to him. His voice hiccupped. “Nothing is okay. I hate this house and I hate hiding and I hate p>
“Noah.” Damien’s voice was gentle. “Come here p>
Noah went to him, still crying. Damien picked him up, carrying him to the couch as the leather creaked under their weight. “You know what? You’re right. This isn’t fair. You shouldn’t have to hide p>
“Then why are we?” Noah wiped his face, his sleeve coming away wet. “Why can’t we just go home p>
“Because there’s a bad man who wants to hurt us.” Damien’s honesty surprised me. “And until we catch him, we have to stay somewhere he can’t find us p>
“But why does he want to hurt us p>
“Because” Damien paused. “Because he’s angry at me. For things I did a long time ago. And he wants to make me sad by hurting the people I love p>
“That’s stupid.” Noah sniffed. “He should just say sorry and be friends p>
“Some people don’t know how to do that.” Damien smoothed Noah’s hair. “Some people only know how to be angry p>
“Is he ever going to stop being angry p>
“We’re going to make him stop.” Damien looked at me. “Soon. I promise p>
Noah nodded, exhausted from crying. His eyes were red and puffy. “Can I watch cartoons p>
“Of course.” Damien turned on the TV a the screen flickered to life, bright colors filling the room. “Whatever you want p>
Noah settled into the cushions, his eyes already glazing over. The cartoon music played, tinny and cheerful.
I moved to the kitchen. My bare feet were cold on the tile. Damien followed.
“He’s right.” I kept my voice low. “This is torture for him, he needs friends, school and a normal life p>
“I know.” Damien leaned against the counter. “But what choice do we have p>
“We could go back.” The words came out before I could stop them. “Set the trap and end this p>
“It’s too dangerous”
“It’s dangerous here too.” I gestured around us. “We’re isolated. If Marcus finds us, we’re sitting ducks p>
“He won’t find us”
“You don’t know that.” I moved closer, close enough to smell his cologne, faded now after two days. “Damien, we can’t live like this. Noah can’t live like this. He needs”
My phone rang loud in the quiet kitchen. The ringtone jarring. I grabbed Monica, my second assistant. “Monica? What”
“Aria, thank God.” Her voice was panicked. Breathless. “We have a problem, a big one p>
My stomach dropped. Cold spreading through my chest. “What happened p>
“The Singapore deal. They’re pulling out, they want to meet with you in person or they’re walking p>
“What? Why p>
“They said,” Monica hesitated. “They said they heard rumors you were in hiding, that Monroe Global is unstable. They want reassurance that you’re still running things p>
“Tell them I’m available for a video conference p>
“They don’t want video. They want face-to-face.” Monica’s voice was tight. “In New York, tomorrow or they’re taking their business to Hayes Tech p>
“How much is this deal worth?” I asked.
“Fifty million. Plus future contracts.” Monica paused. “Aria, if we lose this, the board is going to panic. Investors will start asking questions, we could lose everything you’ve built p>
I looked at Damien who was already shaking his head.
“I can’t,” I said. “Monica, I’m sorry, but I can’t”
“Then we lose the deal.” Monica’s voice was sad. “And probably three more that are waiting to see how this plays out. Aria, I hate to push, but—this is your company. Your empire. If you don’t show up, if you don’t fight for it p>
“I know.” I pressed my hand to my forehead, my skin was hot. “Give me an hour. I’ll call you back p>
I hung up.
Damien was already arguing. “No. Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous p>
“It’s my company.” I met his eyes. “Everything I’ve built, I can’t just abandon it p>
“You’re not abandoning it, you’re protecting yourself”