Page 12 of Razor
I caught Ophelia's panicked glance."No, buddy," I answered smoothly."We're just on an adventure.Sometimes adventures mean you have to move fast."
The terminal stretched before us, crowded with travelers dragging suitcases and staring at phones.I navigated through them efficiently, one hand steadying Dante, the other occasionally guiding Ophelia with the lightest touch when she started to fall behind.
"Gate B17," I said, spotting it ahead."And they're boarding now."
We reached the gate just as they called our boarding group.Dante was still perched on my shoulders, legs dangling against my chest, small hands occasionally covering my eyes which he clearly thought was hilarious.I didn't mind.The kid deserved whatever moments of normal childhood we could give him.
The flight attendant smiled at Dante's excitement as we presented our boarding passes."First flight?"she asked him.
"Yes!And I didn't even have to bring my secret identity!"he announced proudly.
The attendant looked confused but kept smiling."Well, enjoy the ride, young man."
On the plane, I maneuvered us to our seats—I'd booked the entire row.Ophelia took the window, Dante the middle, me on the aisle.Tactical positioning.Nobody could approach without going through me first.
"Mommy, look!We're so high up already and we haven't even started!"Dante pressed his face against the small oval window, smudging it immediately.
"That's just because the plane is tall," I explained, helping him with his seatbelt."Wait until we're actually flying."
"Will my ears pop?Billy at preschool said your ears pop and it hurts."
"Maybe a little," I said, digging through our bag."But I've got a special trick."I pulled out a package of gummy bears I'd grabbed at the terminal store."Chewing these helps."
His eyes lit up."Really?"
"Really.It's science."
Ophelia watched our interaction with quiet wonder in her eyes.When I caught her gaze, she quickly looked away, but not before I noticed the slight softening around her mouth.
"How does the plane stay up?"Dante asked as we taxied toward the runway."Is it magic?"
"Better than magic.It's engineering."I found myself explaining the basics of lift and thrust to a four-year-old, using his Spider-Man toy to demonstrate.The kid absorbed every word, asking surprisingly smart follow-up questions.
As the engines roared and we accelerated down the runway, Dante gripped the armrests, his eyes huge.The moment we lifted off, his face split into the purest expression of joy I'd seen in a long time.
"We're flying!"he whispered, awestruck.
Beside him, Ophelia was less enthused, her fingers white-knuckled on the armrest between us.Without thinking, I covered her hand with mine.
"First flight for you too?"I asked quietly.
She shook her head."Just...a lot happening."
I nodded, understanding what she wasn't saying.As the plane leveled off and the seatbelt sign dinged off, I switched seats with Dante, now seated at the window with his face pressed against it counting clouds.
"Nobody knows where we're headed," I assured her."Your parents, your ex—they're looking for a woman with a kid running scared.Not a family flying to Vegas for a wedding."
"Are you sure?"Her voice was barely audible.
"I'm sure.You're safe now."I gave her hand a gentle squeeze before withdrawing mine."Both of you."
She studied my face like she was looking for the lie, the angle, the hidden agenda.I let her look.I had nothing to hide—at least not about this.
After a moment, she nodded, cautious trust flickering across her features.It wasn't much, but it was a start.And for now, that was enough.
The desert heat slammed into us like a physical force the moment we stepped out of the terminal.After the recycled chill of the airplane, Vegas in July felt like walking into a furnace.Dante immediately started tugging at his t-shirt, his face scrunching up in discomfort.Ophelia squinted against the brightness, instinctively moving closer to me as we navigated through the crowds toward the rental car shuttle.I kept my posture relaxed but my eyes sharp, one hand on our bag, the other hovering near the small of Ophelia's back, not quite touching but ready to guide or protect if needed.
"It's hot," Dante announced with the blunt honesty only kids can get away with.
