Chapter 3 The Kidnap

The morning sun barely warmed Los Angeles when I pulled up in front of the school with the twins in tow. Alyssa was beside me, clipboard in hand, checking forms and schedules, while I oversaw every security protocol I’d arranged. Cameras, guards, background checks on staff, even the routes the kids would take to class. Nothing was left to chance.

It’s been two days since Liam “welcomed” me back home. Gave me the biggest shock. But he hasn’t done anything, and I don’t know if I’m disappointed or relieved that he hasn’t sought me out yet. Whatever it is, I’m glad he doesn’t know about the kids.

“Lucia, Lyla, remember to stay close,” I said, holding their small hands tightly. They nodded obediently, chattering quietly as they adjusted their little backpacks.

Alyssa leaned closer to me, whispering, “Everything looks clean here. No issues with the staff. I’ll stay nearby during the first day, just in case.”

I gave her a small nod. Her presence always made me calmer, never making me feel alone. My mind was never fully at ease, not while there was a target on my back. It wouldn’t be long before it wouldn’t be safe anymore. And I had to be prepared before then.

Then my phone buzzed violently in my hand. The red alert flashed, and I froze.

Luciana.

He’s awake.

Father is awake from the coma, and he’s not happy. He’s already put a hit on you.

Thirty million dollars. They don’t know where you are yet, but they will soon.

Gia texted. Our other friend, in Sicily. We all went to boarding school together. Gia is Romano’s daughter, so we’ve been friends since childhood. I miss her. But she can’t leave yet,her mum is sick, and she stayed back to take care of her. She and Alyssa are the only ones I have right now.

My stomach dropped. I knew Romano would be relentless, but this fast? The old man really hated losing. That was why my father and he worked so well together.

Before I could respond, another alert came in from Alyssa as she checked the dark web for the listing.

“Yep… the hit is real. They’re serious. Dead or alive. They just want you.” She scrolled. “Thirty million is a lot of money. Do you think I should take it?”

“You’d have to kill me,” I deadpanned.

“Don’t worry about the killing… we’ll just go low for a few years until the old man magically dies.”

“Alyssa, this isn’t the time,” I sighed. I knew she was trying to lighten the mood, but this was serious. I couldn’t let my kids live on the run. No. They would be happy, safe, and normal.

“It’ll be okay. You have me, right? And your very angry husband.” She touched me lightly, trying to comfort me.

“Not helping,” I growled.

I swallowed, jaw tight. “We finish here. Then we move.”

I handed the twins over to the school staff for registration. They smiled shyly at the teachers, unaware of the tension brewing around them. Alyssa stayed with me as we handled paperwork, making sure everything went smoothly. I kept my face calm, but my fingers tightened around the dagger in my pocket. Alyssa, sensing my tension, had her gun discreetly ready.

By the time we were done, my phone buzzed again, alerts from my home security system. I opened the feed.

The house looked normal. Doors locked. Lights on. Nothing seemed out of place.

I went home. Both our weapons were drawn and ready for attack as we stepped inside. Tension tightened my lungs as we moved carefully through the house. I hadn’t even been home for a week, and it had already been broken into.

Alyssa went in first, me right behind her. I checked the rooms while Alyssa cleared the bathrooms, kitchen, and backyard.

I entered the kids’ room. Nothing seemed out of place. It felt untouched, and yet… their favorite books and stuffed toys were gone.

They’re good. I’ll give them that.

“No one. It’s as if it wasn’t even touched. They’re good,” Alyssa called from behind me.

Someone had been in my house and had only touched the things that mattered most.

“Someone’s been in the kids’ room.”

“What? But who are these people? The security is tight here. It’s difficult to get in at night let alone during the day.”

“It can’t be Romano. They don’t know where we are yet. These are different people.”

We searched the entire house again, for bugs, listening devices, anything. It took hours, but we found nothing.

Are they pedophiles? Taking only the kids’ things?

Then my phone rang. The school.

“Hello?” I answered calmly, not wanting my tension to show.

“Mrs. Rizzo? We just wanted to inform you… your children’s father came by to pick them up. We didn’t want to let them go because you told us specifically not to release them. But the kids made a fuss, saying they wanted to go, and since he’s a well-known person, we just assumed ”

Time stopped. My hand tightened around the phone.

“What?!” I shouted. “Who gave you permission to hand my children over?! I did not tell anyone they had a father!”

“Calm down,” Alyssa said. “What did they say?”

“These unprofessional fuckers handed my kids to someone on a silver platter.”

“What?!” Alyssa screamed. I put the call on speaker.

“If you don’t tell me who you gave my children to right now, expect hell. I will hunt you, your family, and your entire generation if anything happens to them.”

“We didn’t mean to. We thought you were together.”

“Your assumptions will get you killed if you don’t tell me who you released my children to.”

“Liam Wallace. We’re really sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Time stopped. Liam. He finally made his move. He wanted my kids.

Jokes on him. He’d get my dead body first.

“You’re right,” I said calmly. “It won’t happen again. Now get off my phone.”

“I’ll stay here and secure the house,” Alyssa said. “Go.”

I didn’t hesitate. I thanked her and rushed to the car I hadn’t even turned off, swerving out of the estate at neck-breaking speed.

I pushed the engine, tires gripping the asphalt as I raced toward the only place my mind could settle, the old home Liam still occupied. I didn’t even know if he still lived there, but I had a feeling he never left.

I drove with everything I had. I wouldn’t allow him to take them from me.

When I reached the street, memories tried to surface, but I shoved them down. Today wasn’t about nostalgia. Today was about confrontation.

The lights were on. Security had increased over the years, and hadn’t stopped me.

He was waiting. The bastard.

Alyssa would handle the house. She would watch, wait, and ensure no one returned. She was the only person I trusted enough to leave behind.

I parked sharply in front of the house, not bothering to turn the engine off. Danger alarms screamed in my head as I stepped inside, dagger in hand.

Because when he saw me, he would see more than the woman who left. He would see a mother. A queen. A woman who would do anything to protect what mattered.

I stepped forward.

And that’s when I saw him.

“That was quick.”

I rushed at him, not even looking anywhere else. His face was sti

ll beautiful, sharp as ever.

And my hand struck his face—hard.