Hallie

"Ty," I said softly. "Wake up, sweetie," I said.

"Mommy?"

"Shh... come on, sweetie. We have to go."

"Why?" He asked as he rubbed his eyes.

"Come on put this on and don't make a sound," I instructed as I put his jacket on. It's raining pretty hard outside, but I can't risk staying another night here with Damien. I might be tempted to stay and accept his help and I just can't do that.

I just can't.

I know I had said that I would try to trust Damien, but the longer I thought about, the more I got scared and feared what could happen. So I packed whatever we had with us and grabbed some food—which I hope he won't mind— to keep us going even for just a day. Just enough to get us through our long journey to Vermont.

I decided to let go of my search for my father and continue to go in hiding. I just can't risk it. I can't risk the possible exposure especially with his high profile and highly publicized life and this is also the reason why I can't accept Damien's help. I just can't take that risk. Ty and Michy's safety comes first. I need to keep them safe and Vermont seems like the perfect place to do it. We need anonymity. A place where we would gain no notice. Where I'd just be a single mom who's looking for a quiet place to raise her two kids.

I had called Anne earlier and asked for help. She wired a couple hundred dollars to my bank account. It would be more than enough to get us to Vermont. Anne happens to have a cousin who lives there and has made arrangements for me to work at the grocery store her cousin, Gina works at. She has also opened her home to us to help us get on our feet. If it all works out I could save enough money and we could find our own home, but for now I'm grateful for their help.

With Michy in my arms and Ty holding my hand. We crept down the hall and down the stairs of Damien's place.

I placed a note on the side table by the door before leaving.

I stopped and looked around the place.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

I pressed the down button on his elevator and it opened immediately. I stepped inside and pressed the button to bring us down to the ground level.

"Mommy?"

"It's okay sweetie. We're just going on another adventure."

"Da-yan?"

"Damien?" I asked. He nodded.

"He's not coming with us. He needs to stay here."  The doors pinged and opened.

We stepped out and there was security at the lobby.

My heart pounded.

I took a deep breath and continued walking hoping he doesn't pay us any attention or alert Damien.

I quickened my steps until we made it outside.

The rain was pouring down harder than I thought.

"Ty, baby, we're gonna walk really fast okay?" I said.

He nodded.

I pulled Michy's hood further over her head and held Ty's hand tighter.

"Let's go," I said, and walked as fast as we can.

We were walking for a good fifteen minutes when I heard the thunder.

Damn it, we really need to stop somewhere, but all the shops are closed.

I looked up ahead and found a shop with a little bit of covering.

"Mommy, my yegs is hurted."

"Alright, baby, just a few more steps okay?"

"Okays."

I lifted Ty and my hands and ran the rest of the way.

Michy began to cry.

"Shh... I'm sorry, sweetie pie. It's okay. Mommy's sorry," I cooed.

I put Ty and Michy down for a minute so I could grab my sweater inside the backpack and I placed it around them both.

I sat on the ground and gathered them both in my arms.

My tears mixed with the rain.

What am I doing?

What have I done?

This isn't the life that I wanted for them.

I closed my eyes and prayed.

Please. Oh god, I beg you. Please help us.

Damien

"They couldn't have gone far. Not in this weather. Besides, she doesn't have any money," I told Jerry.

"Sir, let us find them. The rain has picked up and..."

I dismissed his protected and said, "I'm coming. To hell with the rain."

"But, Sir," he started to argue.

"Jerry, I'll be fine," I said, ending all discussions.

He nodded reluctantly.

"Let's go. We're wasting time. Make sure you spread your guys out."

"I've given my orders, Sir. They know what to do and know not to come back without any results."

"Good. Let's go," I said.

My heart was pounding with fear and worry.

God damn, stubborn woman! I should have known she'd pull something like this.

What the hell was she thinking? Sneaking out in the middle of the night in a weather like this. And with two toddlers in tow!

All the while as I was reprimanding her in my head and thinking her all kinds of crazy and stubborn, I was praying to God that he would guide me and lead my feet to the steps they took, so I would find her.

I shook my head.

Just wait till I find her, I'll spank her stubborn ass. I may very well tie her to the damn bed till I knock some sense into her, so she won't do anything stupid ever again!

Suddenly my phone rang.

Nate

"Hey. Thanks for calling me back," I answered.

"No problem. Everything okay?" I asked.

"Not really, and I don't even know if I'm doing the right thing by calling you and bringing you into this," I said.

"What is it? You know you can trust me," he replied.

"I know I can, I just..."

"Is it a woman?" He asked.

I frowned.

A chuckle sounded on the other line when I didn't answer right away.

"It's always a woman," he added.

"Listen, I don't know much yet, all I know is they're running from something or someone," I explained. "She's scared shitless."

"Hold on a second, they're?"

"Yeah. She's got two kids. Toddlers."

"Well shit," he muttered. "Husband?"

"Most likely," I responded.

"How can I help?"

"Stubborn woman won't accept hell from me. She's trying to keep it together, but she's struggling. She was fired from her job and she's living in a dangerous neighbourhood. I just couldn't leave her there. I brought her back to my place and damn stubborn, obstinate woman snuck out in the middle of the night in this shit weather."

"Well they couldn't have gotten far in this weather," he murmured. "And you said she has two kids? Toddlers?"

"Yeah."

"Just stay within a ten kilometre radius. I'm sure she couldn't have gotten further than that. I'll send some guys out if you could send me a picture. But I doubt you have that," he muttered. "Do you have her full name?"

Shit. "No. All I have is her first name. Hallie."

"That's not a lot to go on. Do you want me to dig anything I could find?"

"No!"

"Okay."

"Look I just... I don't even know why I called you. I guess..." I trailed off. I saw how Nate brought my sister back to us. He was able to reach her the way we couldn't after she was kidnaped. And I've seen how good he is to my sister and to their kids. He's not much older than me and I guess I'm just looking for assurance? Can you even call it that?

"I..."

Nate chuckled again. "I see... it's that kind of call."

"This isn't me, Nate. I'm going crazy over someone I barely know."

"That's how it starts, man. And trust me it only gets harder, but I'm telling you, it's the best ride you're ever going to get on."

"That's it? That's all you have to say?"

"What else is there to say? If what's happening to you is it, then there's no escaping it. You can't deny it. You can't run away from it. You can only face it."

"I'm just worried. Our family has been through enough and if this is—her situation is as dangerous as I'm thinking it is, then I don't know if I want to put our family through this again."

"What's the other option, Dame?"

"I don't know. I just know that even if she is in danger, I just can't turn my back or let her go."

"You don't have to and no one in this family would ever ask you to, because we never ever give up on those we love and care about."

I nodded. Nate is right. Besides, I don't even know what her situation is yet and I promised her I'd earn her trust.

Then out in the corner of my eye, I saw some movement.

"Nate, thank you, but I have to call you back," I said ending the call, not bothering to wait for his response.

"Stop the car," I ordered and jumped out of the car.

I jogged towards the store.

"Hallie?" I called out and I saw a head peek out from the sweater covering her.

"Damien?"

"Damn it!" I hurried towards them. "Jerry!" I called out.

"I got them, sir."

"Damien?"

"I'm right here, baby," I said as I gathered them all in my arms. I dropped a kiss on Ty and Michy's head. "Thank god you're all safe."

Jerry got the kids and got them inside the car.

"What the hell were you thinking? You took ten years off of my life."

"I-I'm so-sorry," she said, teeth chattering.

"Come on, let's get you inside the car and warm you up."

I settled her inside and looked over the two little ones, they're asleep.

I saw the tears roll down her cheeks and my heart clenched.

"Come here, it's okay. I've got you," I said, pulling her close to me. "Don't ever do that again!" I said. "If you really don't want to stay with me then let me help you find another place and help you find a job. Don't put your life and your kids' life in danger just because you can't trust me," I said.

She looked up at me and opened her mouth to say something, but I shook my head.

You lied to me. You said you'd try! I wanted to add, but didn't.

The drive back home was quick and quiet.

I got them inside and got the kids settled first.

"Ty's feeling warm," I observed. "Wait here, I'm going to get a thermometer."

When I got back, I saw the guilty look on Hallie's face as she ran her fingers over Ty's face.

"This is my fault. I shouldn't have taken them out in the rain. I shouldn't have," she broke off.

"Hey, none of that," I said, touching her arm before taking Ty's temperature.

"Thirty eight and a half," I said. "I'll give him some medication. I keep some here for my nieces and nephews just in case they get sick while they're with me," I said and showed it to her.

"That's good. I give him them same one when he's sick."

I nodded and gave Ty the medication before looking back at her. "You need to rest to. You look dead on your feet. Here, drink this before you head to bed. I can't have you getting sick too."

"I'll take the pills, but I need to take care of Ty and..."

"I'm right here. And he's right beside you in his pen. You can sleep. I'll watch over him."

"But..."

"Hallie, you need to rest. He needs you to be strong and healthy. They both do and you can't do that if you run yourself rugged."

She frowned and looked over Ty and Michy.

"I promise I'll be right here."

Just when I thought she would argue some more, she simply nodded. "Okay."

"Come on, snuggle in," I said and helped her to bed.

I covered her and turned the lamp off.

"Damien?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

I nodded.