*SHE IS CALLING THE POLICE. SHE IS CLAIMING YOU KIDNAPPED THE BOYS.*

Alexander stared at the message.

His face went pale.

“She wouldn’t,” I said, my voice cracking.

“She would,” he said.

“She will do anything to keep control.”

“She wants to force me into a corner where I have to negotiate.”

“We need to get to Connecticut before they put out an alert,” he said.

“How far is it?” I asked.

“An hour,” he said.

“If we don’t get stuck in traffic.”

I pressed my foot down on the gas pedal, weaving through the midtown traffic.

The boys were quiet in the back.

Lucas was looking out the window at the tall buildings passing by.

Noah was staring at the back of my seat.

“Mom?” Noah said.

“Yes, baby?”

“Is Dad coming with us to the new house?”

I looked at Alexander.

He looked back at me, his eyes filled with a pain I hadn’t seen before.

“Yes, Noah,” Alexander said, turning around in his seat to look at them.

“I am coming with you.”

“I am not going anywhere.”