Noah was already putting on his blue jacket.

He didn’t ask any questions.

He just looked at Alexander, then at me.

We packed a single duffel bag with their clothes and toothbrushes.

Alexander carried the bag.

I held Lucas’s hand, and Alexander held Noah’s.

We walked down the back service stairs to avoid the elevator.

The concrete stairs were cold and smelled of dust.

My heart was hammering against my ribs.

I kept thinking about the look on Victoria’s face in the garage.

She was not a woman who accepted defeat.

She would use every resource she had to destroy us before she let the truth come out.

We reached the basement level.

The heavy steel door groaned as Alexander pushed it open.

The garage was quiet now.

Victoria’s car was gone.

Only my old sedan sat under the dim light bulb.

“Get in quickly,” Alexander whispered.

He put the duffel bag in the trunk while I helped the boys into the backseat.

They buckled their seatbelts without being asked.

Alexander got into the passenger seat.

I sat in the driver’s seat and turned the key.