For a moment, Bo regards me with pride, moved beyond words. His eyes become wet with everything he’s holding in. He’s clearly lost hope in many things, and I don’t blame him. Because it’s not just our lives that have been ruined. It’s theirs. They are all fleeing everything they’ve ever known, forced to live with a new identity in a foreign place, always looking over their shoulders.
Still, anything is better than this.
“This is the location,” he finally says, breaking the silence. “Memorize it, and when you have, burn it.”
I quietly recite the address from the note he hands me, committing it to memory as he rushes into the room to fetch Isabella, sirens wailing in the distance.
“Bo!”
“I hear them.”
“You have the tickets?”
Back in the living room, he holds Isabella close, hugging her tightly to him. He gives me a nod and hands over the gun bag containing breakdown rifles and all the essential documents I may need if I somehow get to Xavier before they get to me. “Everything is there.”
“Let’s go.”
Bo slips out of the apartment first, and he does it without a second glance, reconciled with where our choices have led us. Me? I’m not so sure. My limbs seize with fear. As dawn breaks, soft sunlight starts to grace the window. The oppressive darkness recedes, taking with it this night of unspeakable horrors.
Whatever the risks, they are worth it.
If anything, I’m convinced by the gravitational pull that draws me to him. That pull leads me to the computer, where I open the screen. The tracker is still flashing, now frozen. The location isn’t surprising. They’ve taken him back to where he last suffered for saving what he loved.
My feet race toward the front door.
I'm coming. Hold on, baby…I'm coming.
We’re nearly sprinting through the airport to catch the flight on time. To speed things up, Bo hauls Isabella into his arms, maneuvering around slow travelers and airport personnel to reach the gate before the doors close. There’s so many people. Eyes. I'm searching every room we rush through, terrified by the sight of anyone in a suit. Any man with olive skin and a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
They must be monitoring the airports; I'm sure of it. But I need to be here to see her plane take off. Only then can I leave.
“I can’t go any further,” I gasp, gripping Bo by the shirt as weslow near the gate. He doesn’t push me away as I throw my arms around them, forcing myself not to focus on how terrified he looks while holding a child he’ll raise if I don’t make it out. Another selfish act I have to beg him to accept.
“You’ll take care of her… if anything should happen?—?”
There’s no hint of hesitation. “Like my own, Sophie.”
“I love you, Bo. Tell everyone I love them. Tell Courtney I’m sorry.”
He shuts his eyes. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
I press my lips to Isabella’s cheek, my fingers lightly grazing the swelling around her eyes apologetically as I lower my voice. “Izzy, you are such a good girl. Be good to Bo. Listen to him.”
“I don’t want to go!”
“I love you, Isabella,” I whisper for the first time, my heart heavy with an ache I can’t shake. “So does your Daddy. More than anything.”
“But I want Daddy! I want to wait!”
My eyes lock with Bo’s, both of us sensing that she’s on the verge of a breakdown.
Go. It’s unspoken, but he understands me.
Taking a step back, I let him run to hand his passport to the stewardess, who playfully frowns at Isabella crying into his chest. It feels like I’m being strangled as I see her glance back, thrashing her arms frantically in my direction. I want so badly to look away, unable to bear witness as they are cleared, on the verge of losing myself.
Watch them, Sophie.Watch.
Just before entering the tunnel, Bo casts one last look my way. He nods. I do the same.
