51. Charleigh

FIFTY-ONE

CHARLEIGH

TWENTY-ONE YEARS OLD

Her father took her by the elbow where they were hidden in the hallway at her house. There was another function. Frederick putting on a show for his colleagues and friends. Acting the good guy the way he always did.

It meant she was also putting on a show. Entertaining their guests as if she were a doting, happy wife. All while her insides were a toil of desperation and despair.

Six months had passed since Levi was born. Six months of torment. Six months of fear.

Knowing she couldn't remain there and raise this child that she loved more than anything she'd ever loved in her life. She'd heard it spoken of—a mother's love. How powerful and unending it was. That you couldn't truly understand it until you held that child in your arms.

She understood it now, and she understood the lengths she would go to protect it.

"I have a plan," her father said, pinning on the fakest smile so it would appear as if he were having a normal chat with his daughter if someone were to notice them.

Hope blossomed in the middle of the turmoil, and she gulped around it and tried to play it cool.

She'd managed to meet with him several times over the last few months. In the few moments she'd been able to sneak away. He'd crumbled when she'd told him of the abuse she'd suffered, when she explained how she'd gotten wrapped up in the vilest of men.

Her father had wept. Had told her he'd been set up, too. That Frederick was using threats against her and her mother to blackmail him into doing his nefarious deeds. Forging his books and making his dirty business look clean.

It seemed Frederick Winston just twisted his manipulation in every direction. Using them all for his heinous will.

They'd discussed options. She knew the only thing she could do was completely disappear. Take her son and run. She just didn't know how to do it.

Trapped under the rubble of this life that was going to destroy her.

Smiling wide, she giggled, as if her father had said something funny as she set her hand on his forearm. "Oh really? And what is that?"

"Two weeks from Friday. Frederick will be out of town. Meet me with Levi, in your car, at the Starbucks on Tremont and Oak. Ten a.m. Whatever instruction I give you, you mustn't hesitate. Just do what I ask you to do."

Dread pooled in her stomach, but she kept up the smile. "I need you safe, too."

"We're all going to be. I promise, Sweet Pea, we're all going to be."

That morning, she rose with the sun. Frederick had left for a business trip the previous night.

She climbed from bed and went straight into her son's room. Her heart nearly burst when she saw his sweet face where he sat up in his crib, smiling at her with his two little teeth he had on his bottom gums, waving his little stuffed puppy in one hand.

She swept him up and into her arms. Love overflowed.

She pressed a kiss to his temple, breathed in the sweet scent of his blond curls as she tried to settle the nerves that ravaged her insides.

They were leaving.

They were getting out of there.

They were going to make it.

I'm going to give you a good life , she silently promised again and again.

She did her best to keep her same daily routine. Feeding Levi. Playing with him on his floor. Acting as if nothing was amiss since she was sure Frederick would be monitoring her on the video.

She didn't make any deviances. Not until twenty to ten when she slipped on her shoes, grabbed her son, and walked out the door. It wasn't that odd for her to leave during the day. Frederick wanted to make sure she kept up all appearances.

Doing yoga and lunches and fundraisers. Things the wife of a man like him would do.

Though she was shaking out of control as she buckled Levi into his car seat, her sweet boy babbling and waving his puppy. She kissed his cheeks, his knuckles, tried to calm herself as she climbed into the driver's seat and made the fifteen-minute drive to meet her father.

She pulled into the parking lot. Immediately, she saw her father's car on the other side of the lot. She took the spot beside it, her pulse clattering through her veins.

Her father was in the driver's seat, and her mother was in the front passenger.

Her cousin Lilah got out of a car on the other side of them.

Her stomach was a riot of knots.

Barely able to get her hands to cooperate, she unlatched her door and climbed out of her car just as her father and mother got out of theirs.

Fear and determination pulled through her mother's expression. "Grab Levi and buckle him into our car. "

Confusion bound her, but she remembered what her father had requested of her. She needed not to question. They didn't have time. She had to trust that he was going to get them out of this.

She immediately did, unbuckling her son who was giggling and cooing and waving at his grandparents, no idea of what they were about to embark on.

Having no idea the danger that surrounded them.

Panic thundered, but her determination was stronger.

Her mother opened the back door of their car, and she was quick to buckle Levi into the car seat that was already there.

"What's going on?" she asked while she fumbled with the straps.

"We decided this morning it would be best for you to take Lilah's car and leave yours here. Lilah is going to come with us, just in case anyone is watching," her father rushed.

Lilah resembled her. A lot. Tall with long blonde hair. A slow, sinking feeling crept over her when she realized what her father was thinking.

"But Levi…" Her voice croaked when she said it.

"We think it's best to separate you two."

She understood immediately. Her father wanted to throw Frederick's guys off their tracks. Disorient them.

"You'll meet us here tomorrow." He shoved a folded piece of paper into her hand.

Sickness coiled in her being, and her spirit screamed at the thought of being separated from her son for even a second.

"Trust me. It's the best way," her father urged, his voice low. His attention whipped around as he searched the lot, as if he were worried that they might be being watched.

Because if Frederick had picked up a trail, if he had any idea, then…

Horror gripped her, a cyclone of fear ripping through her senses.

But she had to.

They had no other choice.

She had to take this risk.

"Go," her father gritted.

In a frenzy, she ducked back into the backseat of her parents' car, and she smothered kisses all over her little boy's face. Her hands were on his cheeks as she murmured, "I love you. I love you more than anything."

He babbled and yanked at a lock of her hair.

She forced herself to straighten and then she threw herself at her father. "Be careful," she begged.

He nodded. "You be careful, too."

She hugged her mother and then rushed to hug her cousin, murmuring, "Thank you."

Lilah nodded against her shoulder. "It's time for you to live free and without pain. I'm honored to have a small part in making that happen."

She choked over a cry and hugged her cousin harder because she knew she'd never see her again.

Then she raked the tears off her face before she tossed her phone into the bushes then climbed into her cousin's car. She fumbled to plug the address where they were supposed to meet in Columbus, Ohio into the map on the dash.

And with her heart in her throat, she sped away.