A WEEK LATER
It has been a week since Nadia showed up. It has been a week since she ruined the McCalls, they now live from hand to mouth and hide themselves from the society.
Malia was smart enough to save up so she left the country and went far away to start a new life.
Mr. Blackwell and his wife heard about what Nadia did to the McCalls and since then, they have been extra careful.
Mr. Blackwell wasn’t really threatened by her, he was sure he didn’t do anything wrong to her but his wife was bothered.
She was friends with Mrs. McCall and she also tried to ruin Nadia when she was still naive. She was scared she would be her next target.
Axel and Max have been trying their best to get back on track and they were making progress even though it was draining them. Nora travelled out of the country on a business trip for Mr. Blackwell and won’t be back until a few days.
The kids stopped being home-schooled and returned to school, although they were scared, Axel assured them that their mother would never hurt them.
Despite the assurance, he was still being careful. He drives them to school himself and picks them up, they spend most of the day with him.
The kids were okay with everything going on, they understood the situation perfectly.
Axel tried finding out where Nadia was staying in the city but he couldn’t. He also tried to find which set of Russians she was working with but she couldn’t find any. A lot was going on in the society and the second ball of the season was fast approaching.
Axel sat in his office and worked, his phone suddenly beeped and he looked at it. It was time for him to pick up his kids.
He grabbed his car keys and headed out of the office, in minutes, he was out of the company.
He got to the parking lot and froze when he saw Nadia leaning on his car. He hid his surprised look as he walked closer to her.
“Hey.” He called as he got to her, she looked at him.
“Hey.” She called back.
“Is something wrong?” Axel asked.
“Well, I am here so we can go and pick up our kids from school together.” She replied and Axel chuckled.
“Really?” He asked.
“You know, I can just go to their school, pick them up, and force them into the car. Travel out of the country to somewhere you would never find me, raise them and they would love me eventually.”
“Hmm.”
“But here I am, wanting to act like a sane person, just like Kender said.” She added and Axel nodded. He stared down at her outfit before looking up at her.
She was dressed in leather pants and jackets with boots, she looked so cool and Axel couldn’t help but smile. She was so different.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He replied with a smile and moved to the driver’s side, he unlocked the car and they both got in.
He ignited the car and drove out of the parking lot.
As he drove, he kept glancing at her but she didn’t pay attention to him.
“Blonde looks good on you.” Axel finally said and she looked at him.
“Don’t talk to me, I hate you.” She replied and he chuckled.
No one said anything again till they got to their kids’ school.
Axel pulled over in the parking lot and they both got out of the car.
“So, are we supposed to go get them?” She asked and Axel shook his head as he moved closer to her.
“We wait.” He replied and she nodded. He stood next to her as they stared at the entrance.
A few seconds later, Kendra walked out. She looked around and noticed them, she was surprised to see Nadia, she paused for a few seconds before walking toward them.
“Why is it only her? Where is Kender?” Nadia asked without turning to Axel.
“It’s Tuesday. He has soccer practice but he should be done in a few minutes.” He replied.
Kendra got to them and she smiled at Axel.
“Daddy.” She called and Axel bent to her level and hugged her.
He pulled away from the hug and took her bag from her. Axel gave her a look and she understood what it meant.
She sighed and turned to Nadia who was staring at her.
“Good afternoon.” She greeted and Nadia nodded.
“I’ll take that. Good afternoon to you too.” She replied with a smile.
They suddenly heard kids yelling and they all turned to see students gathered watching a fight. It was between Kender and a kid a little bit taller than him.
The kid pushed Kender roughly and he fell.
“What the fuck?” Axel muttered as he was about to rush to him but Nadia stopped him.
The kid hit Kender again.
“Daddy, do something.” Kendra said in fear and Nadia tightened her grip on Axel’s hand as he was about to move.
“What are you doing? Let go of me.” Axel said.
“Hold on.” She replied.
Kender stood up as the kid was about to hit him again and ran towards them. He ignored them and entered the car and slammed the door.
Nadia rolled her eyes and opened the car door, she stared at him as he folded his arms and cried silently.
“Get out.” She ordered him and he looked at her. His lip was a little torn.
“Leave me alone.” He replied and sniffed.
“Get out of the damn car.” She said sternly.
“Don’t yell at him.” Axel said but she ignored him.
“Get out, Kender.” She ordered again and he sniffed before getting out of the car.
“Okay, hold this.” Nadia said as she took his bag and handed it to Axel.
Nadia bent to his level and stared at him.
“Wipe those years, boys don’t cry.” She ordered and he wiped his tears.
“Good, why did he hit you?” She asked and he answered reluctantly.
“He hates the fact that everyone likes me ’cause we are rich. He is the school’s bully.” Kender replied.
“Great, we are going to do something real quick. You are going to go back and fight with him.”
“Come on, you can’t be serious.” Axel said.
“Ignore your father. He has gone soft since he became a daddy.” Nadia said and Kendra chuckled. Axel gave her a look and she shrugged.
“What? It’s funny.” She replied and he turned back to Nadia and Kender.
“I can’t fight him. He is big.” Kender replied.
“Then you have to learn this in a few seconds. When you get to him, hit his face with a fist, you would be throwing the first punch. When he tries to hit you again, move out of the way and hit him with your left fist. He would get mad and charge towards you, once he grabs your shirt, kick the back of his leg so hard that he would fall. When he is on the ground, hit his face and dare him to get him.” Nadia explained showing him how he would do everything she had explained.
“Kender, don’t listen to her.” Axel said.
“You can’t walk away from a fight, you can’t do that. You need to go over there and show him what you can do.” she said as she fixed his jacket.
“I can’t do that.” Kender replied and she nodded.
“Great, then you are a weakling and a fool.” She said to him.
“Hey, don’t say that to him.” Axel said.
“Don’t call me that.” Kender said as he started to cry again.
“Then go there and prove me wrong.” She snapped at him and Kender walked towards the boy.
“If he gets hurt, you will regret this.” Axel said to her.
“Just watch.” She replied and they all watched Kender.
“Hey, Mitch.” Kender called and the kid turned to him.
Before Mitch could blink, Kender punched him hard and he took a few steps back.
“What the… ” He trailed off as Kender moved closer to him and punched him again. He tried to hit him but Kender moved out of the way and hit him with his left fist.
Just like Nadia predicted, he charged towards Kender and grabbed him. Kender kicked him hard just like Nadia had said and he fell to the floor. The kids around cheered.
Kender hit him again.
“Come on. You aren’t so tough again, are you?” He yelled as Mitch groaned in pain on the floor.
The kids cheered for Kender and he smiled happily and ran back to his parents.
“Yes! That’s my boy!” Nadia yelled happily as he got to her, she gave him a high five as he smiled happily.
“Not bad.” Axel said with a smile.
“I have my personal bodyguard already.” Kendra giggled.
“Will I get in trouble for fighting?” He asked.
“Of course not. You are a Blackwell.” Axel replied.
“My hands hurt though.”
“It will go away.” Nadia replied and he smiled at her before entering the car, his sister did too.
“I have gone soft?” Axel asked her.
“Of course. The Axel I got into a contract marriage with would have killed his parents because their kid touched his son.” She replied and got into the car. Axel shook his head and also did too.
Axel drove out of the parking lot.
As they drove, Kendra and Kender kept talking.
Suddenly, Axel noticed a car trailing them and he turned to Nadia.
“We’ve got company.” He told her and she looked in the mirror and noticed it too. Axel suddenly increased the speed.
“Dad, why are you going so fast?” Kender asked.
“Use your seatbelt. It’s going to be a rough ride.”