Page 20 of Revealed

My attention slides to Michael, wearing a smile that I knew I would find on his face. A smile that wasn’t even trained on me, but on the little girl that’s stolen more than one heart around here.

“Oink oink.” Kennedy doesn’t miss a beat.

Her cuteness causes a round of laughter. The full adult laughter and the innocent giggles of babies too pure for this cruel world. A door opens down the hall and the adult laughterends, but the child-like wonder continues with oinks bouncing back and forth across the kitchen.

The heavy footfalls move through the hallways at a leisurely pace until Ashton appears in the doorway. His suit jacket is gone, and his shirt sleeves are rolled to expose his muscular forearms. It’s been a couple of weeks since his last haircut, so he looks a little disheveled. A testament to the issues the Rose empire is currently facing. When Victor was sent away Ashton refused to appoint a new second, and he’s been struggling trying to keep everything together himself. The room falls silent as his gaze moves from face to face, taking in the joyous moment.

“Francesca, keep the children quiet! I’m tending to important business,” he snaps at me.

I release a deeply impatient sigh, concentrating on Nathan’s hand. Even if we have a deal, I still bite my tongue, very aware of the fights I pick with him. “They’re children,Ashton, but I will do what I can.”

“Daddy, listen, I’m a piggy!” Kennedy snorts, making pig noises.

I turn to see cold, dead eyes examining my sweet baby girl, and I hate that this is the person she calls “daddy”. My eyes move to Michael and the joy that was present moments ago has vanished, and in its place is calm indifference, but I see the hurt in his eyes.

Nathan speaks up, turning my attention back to him.

“Franny, is the medicine gonna hurt?” he asks softly.

“No, sweetie. It will be quick and painless,” I say with a comforting smile.

Ashton scoffs before tossing out his parting words. “It won’t be long until I squash this weakness you’ve embedded in my soldiers.”

Once he is gone, I finish cleaning up Nathan’s hand. Thekids are quiet. Their joy has been completely ripped away by that heartless man. Michael graciously offers to take the kids back outside and I watch from the window as Kennedy and Nathan take off running again. I want that joy for them forever and I know the only way to achieve it.

“Should’ve let him take y’all away,” Kathy’s voice is low as she walks up to my side, staring at the kids with me.

“Yeah, I know.”

Even I can hear the deep regret in my voice. She grabs my hand, giving me a reassuring squeeze.

Chapter Twelve

FrancescaRose

Texas, 2005 - 4 years later

My stomach is in knots as I sit on the edge of the bed staring at the clock on my nightstand. Tonight we make our move. From somewhere deep within, I’ve finally found the courage to leave the Rose compound with Kennedy and Nathan, never to return. Kennedy turns eight in two weeks, so it’s a now-or-never situation we’ve found ourselves in. Financially, Michael and I could’ve made this move before now, but mentally I wasn’t ready for the danger this decision brings. We’ve prepped as much as we can in hopes that we could get the children out safely and start our new lives.

It’s a little after eleven when the soft knock sounds on my bedroom door. I quickly move across the plush carpet to let Michael in. He stands in front of me dressed in all black, prepped to move through the shadows. I’ve put all my trust in him to remove us from this life riddled with uncertainty. As soon as Ashton made plans to leave the state, we knew this was our chance to make our move. It isn’t abnormal for the guardswho report to Michael to be on shift at night, and he’s made sure the plan was solid. The only thing left is to get the kids through the front door and off the property. Staying hidden from Ashton will be a lot easier once we’re past the front gates.

“The shift change has happened. My men are in place, let’s move.” The orders fall from him like a soldier leading his men into battle.

My palms are sweaty as I move to the back of my walk-in closet, grabbing the two suitcases that I’ve prepared. Enough clothes to last Kennedy, Nathan and I until we figure out where we will land long term. My heart races as my hand grips the handles, holding on to the little bit of our life that’s coming with us. No material item is worth the freedom we could give these babies if we can pull this off. I wish Kathy would’ve agreed to come with us, but she fussed that she was too old to be on the run. My only prayer is that she isn’t punished once we’re gone.

“Here are the suitcases. I will get Kennedy and Nathan,” I say.

My voice is shaky and I know I need to settle my nerves before I leave this room. Fear leaves room for error and I have two kids that are depending on me. Michael stops at the door, his shoulders sag as he turns and for a moment the bodyguard mask drops. In front of me stands the charming man that gave me the little piece of joy to hold onto in this life I didn’t want. He moves back to me, pulling me into his embrace before kissing me deeply. My body relaxes into him, pulling from his strength to get me through this. We both realize this may be the last true moment of peace for a while. My hand caresses his jawline, thinking back on our first meeting, and the gratitude I have for him. I will finally be able to comfortably reveal the secret that I’ve kept from him for the last eight years. Kennedy is his daughter.

He places a kiss on my forehead. “Get the kids. As soon as I throw the bags in the car, I will double back in to meet up with you.”

With one last kiss, he turns to leave. I glance back once at the bedroom that’s been my solace for the last ten years. I wait to feel any other emotion that could warn me not to go through with this, but it doesn’t come. I follow Michael through the bedroom door and don’t look back. Kennedy, Nathan and I have this entire wing of the house to ourselves, with Michael being the only guard to check in on us. I move down the hall with confidence I didn’t possess moments ago but can now feel building. I can do this.

Kennedy’s door is ajar just as I left it, allowing a bit of the hallway light to filter through. She’s still in the phase of being afraid of the dark, so no matter how many nightlights I offer that door remains cracked. I push the door open, aware of the creak and moan to come from the door jamb, but strangely enough I’m met with silence. The hair on the back of my neck rises, but I don’t linger, pushing through the feeling of unease sliding over me, and enter Kennedy’s room.

The light from the hall spills across the room. In the rocking chair across from Kennedy’s bed sits Ashton Rose, gun in his lap and death in his eyes. I immediately freeze in place as my stomach drops, threatening to upend its contents. My eyes flicker toward the bed and see that Kennedy isn’t there and shock transforms into fear. He studies me, taking in my attire, as I try quickly to keep the shock off my face. How is he here? He was supposed to leave on a business trip earlier in the day. Where is my daughter?

“You’re not dressed for bed. Got somewhere you need to be?” Ashton asks calmly.