The airport was bustling with noise—announcements echoing through the speakers, the chatter of travelers, the rolling of suitcases against the tile floor. But none of it mattered to me.
I clutched Carmela tightly in my arms, my heart racing. She was still asleep, her tiny face peaceful against my shoulder.
By the time we boarded the plane, my breathing had steadied. I settled into my seat, holding her close, feeling the weight of what I had done. What I was about to do.
A soft whimper broke through the quiet hum of the plane’s engine.
Carmela stirred, shifting slightly. Her big eyes blinked open, groggy and confused. I panicked, unsure of how she would react. Yes, I had stolen her, but she was still just a child. I couldn’t afford chaos inside the plane—if she screamed, Will and Karylle might find out too soon. I could only hope she stayed quiet.
“Mommy?” she mumbled, her voice laced with sleep.
I froze. My grip tightened around her. She was looking for Karylle. Of course, it was her daughter. But right now, no Karylle. It was just me and her.
I forced a smile. “Your mommy will come soon.”
She pouted, rubbing her eyes. “Where is she?”
I hesitated. “She’s… not here right now.”
Carmela let out a sleepy sigh before resting her head against my shoulder again. “Okay.”
I exhaled, tension easing just a little. She didn’t cry. What a good kid. She was such a sweet child. Innocent. For a moment, my mind betrayed me. Hayley’s face flashed before my eyes—her bright smile, her giggles as she ran toward me, her small arms wrapping around my waist.
I swallowed hard, pushing the thought away. I didn’t want to cry so I couldn’t think about Hayley. Not now.
I couldn’t kill Carmela, either. That would be too cruel for an innocent child. And my daughter’s heart was inside her.
But I could steal her—take her away from them. Make them feel the pain I felt. The agony. The emptiness. They took Hayley from me. Now, I’d take Carmela from them… and make them suffer for the rest of their life.
After all, she had my daughter’s heart. That made her mine.
As I waited for the flight to take off, my phone vibrated.
I glanced at the screen.
A text from Will. Of course, he would have known by now that Carmela was missing.
Where’s Carmela?
I stared at the message, my pulse steady. Another text came in seconds later.
Helena, where is she?
A bitter smile curled on my lips. He was panicking. Good.
Then my phone rang.
I let it ring, tapping my fingers against my knee as I watched the passengers settle into their seats. The flight attendants moved through the aisles, checking seatbelts, preparing for takeoff.
My heart pounded, but I refused to let the nerves show. I could picture him now—pacing, his hands running through his hair, his face twisted with fear.
The same fear I had felt when I woke up in that hospital. When I realized Hayley was gone. When I heard him whisper the most unforgivable words.
He had chosen. And it hadn’t been us.
The phone kept ringing. Once. Twice. Three times.
Then, finally, I answered.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, feigning confusion.
Will’s voice came through instantly, sharp and breathless. “Do you have Carmela?”
I smirked, tilting my head back against the seat, my fingers tightening around the phone. “Why would I have your child?”
“Helena, don’t do this,” he snapped, frustration lacing his voice. “Tell me where you are.”
I laughed softly, a sound that lacked any warmth. “I’m somewhere you don’t know, Will. I’m done. I don’t want to be with you anymore, so feel free to be with Karylle. Don’t disturb me anymore.”
Silence.
I could hear him breathing, his restraint breaking piece by piece.
“My patience is running out, Helena,” he warned, his voice cold. “Where is my daughter?”
I rolled my eyes, my grip on the phone tightening. “Now you care? Now you call her your daughter?” My voice sharpened, anger slipping through. “You never cared when it was Hayley. You let her die, Will. You gave her heart away like she was nothing. So tell me—why should I care where Carmela is?”
A sharp inhale. A pause. He wasn’t expecting that.
“Helena,” he started again, slower this time, like he was trying to calm a storm. “I know you’re angry. I know you’re hurting. But don’t do something you’ll regret.”
I clenched my jaw, the fury boiling under my skin. Regret? Regret?
I regretted believing in him. I regretted loving him. I regretted thinking that he would ever protect our family.
But this?
I would never regret this.
“Where are you?” he pushed again.
I smiled, even though he couldn’t see it. “Somewhere you’ll never find me.”
“Helena—”
I hung up.
But I wasn’t done yet.
After securing Carmela in her seat, I made another call.
A number I had saved long ago. An agency that specialized in deception, in creating chaos.
When the voice on the other end answered, I spoke clearly. “I need you to contact Will Collins and Karylle Vega.”
There was a pause. Then, “And what should we tell them?”
“That their daughter has been kidnapped.”
