Ella pressed her phone to her ear, glancing around the dimly lit room of the new safe house. The boys were playing quietly in the corner, their toys spread across the floor as they laughed, oblivious to the tension weighing her down. She waited for Derek to pick up, her fingers tapping nervously against the kitchen counter.
After a few rings, his gruff voice came through. “have you reached there?”
“Yeah, we made it,” Ella replied, her voice low. “The place is secure, no signs of anyone following us. But… I don’t know, Derek. The boys are starting to notice all the moving. I don’t know what to tell them if they ask questions”
Derek’s sigh crackled through the line. “You are doing everything to keep them safe. As long as Tania’s out there, you don’t have a choice. But I’ll keep looking into her movements, hopefully we are a step ahead of her”
Ella bit her lip, feeling the weight of it all crashing down. “Thanks, Derek. I just hope this is the last time we have to run.”
“You’ll get through this, Ella. Stay strong.”
After ending the call, she exhaled slowly, her eyes drifting to her twin boys, Leo and Liam. Their giggles filled the room, but it only made her chest tighten. She didn’t want them to grow up in fear, always on the run because of the tangled mess she had found herself in.
Her phone buzzed again, this time with a reminder of her responsibilities beyond the chaos…work. She quickly dialed her office.
“Hey, Jen, it’s Ella. I’m going to need to work from home for a bit,” she said, keeping her tone as casual as possible. “Something personal came up, but I’ll make sure everything stays on track.”
Her assistant’s voice was bright and understanding. “Of course, Ella. You know we’ve got everything under control here, so just take your time. We’ll manage until you’re ready to come back.”
Ella thanked her and hung up, her eyes finally settling on the boys, who had gone quiet. They were watching her closely now, Liam’s small brows furrowed.
“Mommy, why did we move again?” Leo asked, his voice so innocent yet piercing.
Ella knelt down in front of them, forcing a soft smile. “Because I wanted us to be somewhere safe, where we can play and have fun without worrying.”
“But we were already safe,” Liam said, his tone confused. “We’ve moved so many times.”
She swallowed, unsure of how much to tell them. “I know it’s hard to understand, but sometimes grown-ups have to make hard decisions to protect the people they love. But I promise, we’ll be okay.”
The twins exchanged glances before nodding, though the worry lingered in their young faces. Ella wrapped them both in a tight hug, whispering promises she hoped she could keep.