Chapter 10
Vale’s people had been watching my family for five weeks.
Each time Noah became ill, I changed something.
Sent a driver.
Moved a guard.
Canceled a dinner.
Ordered Emily’s building covered.
Ryan reported the movement.
Linda created the crisis.
Vale measured the reaction.
I looked at Ryan.
“How many routes?”
He said nothing.
I checked his phone.
South docks.
Hill warehouse.
Private clinic.
Three.
Enough to hurt us.
Not destroy us.
This had been reconnaissance.
Preparation for something larger.
“When?”
No answer.
I turned to Linda.
She smiled.
“You think glaring makes clocks stop?”
“What clock?”
Ryan closed his eyes.
There.
She said too much.
“What happens?”
Linda leaned back.
“Ask your loyal men.”
I called my security captain.
“Check every route Ryan sent.”
He left.
Emily held Noah.
His fever was beginning to fall.
Emma sat beside her with the teddy bear.
For the first time that day, both children looked slightly calmer.
Ryan noticed.
He sneered.
“Happy family.”
Emily looked at him.
“Yes.”
That answer surprised him.
“Without you.”
His face changed.
Good.
Linda scoffed.
“You’ll regret turning children against their father.”
Emily laughed bitterly.
“He did that himself.”
Ryan stepped forward.
“You are not taking my children.”
Emma flinched.
I moved between them.
“They are not objects.”
Ryan stared.
“You don’t get to decide.”
Emily answered:
“I do.”
Silence.
Linda turned toward her.
“You think Daddy will protect you forever?”
Emily looked at me.
Then back at Linda.
“No.”
Pause.
“I think I can protect them now.”
That was the first time I saw my daughter returning to herself.
Then my captain came back.
His face had changed.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“South dock convoy is already missing.”
My blood went cold.
“When?”
“Forty minutes ago.”
The plan was no longer future.
Vale had moved while we were inside the pediatric suite.
Ryan stared at the floor.
I looked at him.
“You knew.”
He whispered:
“It wasn’t supposed to happen today.”
Linda turned sharply.
And another layer broke open.
May you like
Vale was no longer following Ryan’s plan.
They had started using him too.
