Emilia stopped running as she gasped for air, her lungs burned, and her arms ached from holding Daniel close. She didn’t know how far she had gone, only that she needed to get as far away from the burning compound as possible.
Behind her, the Cross estate was now a distant blur of smoke. Sirens wailed in the far distance, faint but growing louder.
“Mommy…” Daniel’s voice was soft, shaky. “Where is Daddy?”
Emilia swallowed hard. Her throat felt raw. “Daddy is coming, baby,” she whispered, kissing his forehead. “We just need to stay safe until he does.”
But inside, fear clawed at her chest. Alexander’s message still burned on her phone screen.
Don’t trust anyone. They could be anywhere.
What did that mean?
Her body trembled. What if he was hurt? Who was he referring to?
She forced he
