Page 30 of When We Collide

My heart sinks. Why is the Chief of Air calling me? Something must be terribly wrong if he's calling me directly. “Yes sir?”

“Captain Reyes, you need to go home to your wife and son right now.”

I frown, “Sir? What’s going on?”

“Dean, Jeyla is no longer the target. We’ve received word that Viktor is coming for your son. We contacted the security detail we placed to watch over Jeyla to get them out of there but we’re not getting through. We believe they may have been compromised.”

“What?!" I bark, my legs shake almost violently under me as I race toward my car.

“Dean?!” Oz calls out as he comes running after me. “What’s going on?”

“What do you mean they’ve been compromised?! They assured me every precaution was taken to ensure their safety. How did he find out the baby is mine?”

“Your wife has you registered as the father on the child’s birth certificate.” I close my eyes and grip the steering wheel as tight as I can, my knuckles turning white with tension. The urge to put my fist through the window is overwhelming, but I fight it back. No, God, please this cannot be happening.

Starting the car, Oz just manages to throw himself into the passenger seat as I shift the car into gear and hurriedly turn it around, racing down the street back to Jeyla, my tires screeching against the tarmac in protest.

My heart and mind are consumed with crippling fear and anger. “Dean, I assure you we have done everything and have been verydiligent with the safety of your family. I’ve already got a team of special forces officers who are on their way to your house as we speak,” the voice on the phone says urgently. “I'll gather up the team from our end and do what we can. And Captain, I know it’s difficult, but I need you to remain composed and not lose your head. We’re going to handle this. Remember your training. I’ll be in touch when we gather more intel.”

The line goes dead, and I almost hurl my phone through the windshield in a rage. My hands shake as I scroll through my contacts and dial Jeyla's number. But there's no answer, just endless rings that echo in my ears like a countdown to disaster.

“Come on JJ, answer the phone.” I plead, redialling when it goes to her voicemail. “Come on baby, please, please answer the fucking phone.”

“Dean, what the fuck is going on?” Oz questions, pulling his seatbelt on with trembling hands. His voice is laced with fear and worry.

Shaking my head, I speed through traffic, zooming in and out of cars as if they're mere obstacles in my path. Keep my fucking composure? Is he serious?

“Keep trying Jeyla,” I tell my brother, my voice strained with panic and desperation. He stares at me, his own eyes wide with concern. “Stop asking questions and call her, Oz!” My brother takes my phone and dials Jeyla’s number again, his fingers shaking as he presses the buttons.

“Dean, fucking talk to me, what’s happening?!” Oz's voice cracks with emotion, his eyes darting between the road, the phone in his hand, and me as we race down the high street. “Jesus, slow the fuck down.” I'm breaking every speed limit and road safetylaw in my desperate rush to get home and protect my family. But right now, the only thing I care about is getting to them.

“I can’t slow down. Jeyla’s no longer the target, he’s coming for DJ. He’s already taken out the security. Jeyla’s a sitting duck, she’s got no fucking protection.” There’s a searing surge of rage pulsing through my veins at the thought of anything happening to Jeyla and my son. I punch the steering wheel a couple of times when Jeyla’s phone goes to voicemail for the fourth time. “God damn it!”

“Dean!” my brother shouts, reaching out to grab the handle above the door, bracing himself for impact when another car pulls out in front of me, but I already anticipate it and swerve to the left, narrowly missing it and zooming past. Oz looks back at the car and then at me, “Fucking Christ…” he utters sinking back into the passenger seat.

JJ, hang in there, baby girl. I’m coming.

“There we go,stinky boy. You’re fed and your bum is fresh and clean. It’s now time for your afternoon nap. Yes, it is, my chunky little cherub.” I coo, brushing my nose over DJ’s tiny one as I lift him up into my arms and pick up his favourite stuffed toy, an adorable little pig holding a little heart. “Oh, we can’t forget to pack Piggly now, can we? No, you will scream bloody murder if we leave him behind.” I check the time on my phone and drop it on the bed again before I walk out of the bedroom to put DJ down for a nap while I finish packing. “Daddy will be home any minute and he’s going to be furious with mummy for not being done with packing yet and it’s all your fault.” DJ smiles up at me, melting my heart with his cuteness. I press a kiss to his forehead. “You’re too cute for your own good, you know that?”

Humming to him quietly, I walk to the nursery and stop when I hear a noise from downstairs. Was that glass breaking? A second later I hear Lex’s barking and growling. What on earth was that? “Lex? What have you broken again?” Sighing, I turn and make my way down the stairs. I bet he’s seen the neighbour’s cat at the window again. Last time he jumped up on the counter and smashed seven plates and our toaster in his frenzy to get to that damn cat.

Hurrying down the stairs I make my way to the kitchen and see Lex growling in the direction of the back door. My left foot only just steps into the kitchen when suddenly, the front door crashes open, shattering the peaceful silence. My heart leaps into my throat as I spin to see what the hell is happening as three men in dark clothing and masks storm in.

Oh fuck.

My arms instinctively tighten around DJ, keeping him protectively against my chest as I back up into the kitchen, my legs shaking furiously with every step when their eyes zero in on me. Fear grips me tight. My mind becomes blank and before I can think to react they’re striding toward me with purpose. My mind screams at me to turn and run and as I’m about to one of them grabs me by the hair and drags me back. “Ahh… who are you?! What do you want?!” I scream, clutching DJ as tightly as I can against me.

“Shut up.” The man growls icily in my ear. “Give me the kid.”

“No!” I scream, holding DJ tighter. “No, no, please!” I plead, tears streaming down my face as I struggle against his hold. “You’re not taking my baby!” I cry, my voice breaking with desperation. I try with all my might to shield DJ with my body, but the second man steps forward and punches me in thestomach. Every bit of air rushes out of my lungs, and I double over in pain, my grip loosening on DJ. Through the pain in my stomach, I can hear Lex barking ferociously, his fur bristled, and his eyes locked onto the intruders.

“Get the kid,” the first man holding onto my hair orders the second.

“No…” I wheeze as the second man pries DJ from my arms with a ruthless smile. DJ wails, his tiny fists flailing as he’s ripped away from me. I reach out for him. Pushing aside the pain I fight to get to him, clawing at the leader where I can, but he strikes me across the face with something hard and I hit the floor with a dull thud, my head striking the edge of the dining table on the way down.

Pain explodes in my skull, and my vision blurs as I scramble to get back up. I can’t think about the pain. I need to save my son. “No! DJ!” I scream as loud as my lung allow as they turn to walk away. I somehow find the strength to push myself up on unsteady legs and follow them.

I can feel something warm trickling down the side of my face, and I don’t need to touch it to know it’s blood. I can smell the metallic scent and it makes my stomach turn. DJ’s cries become louder, and I can see through my blurred vision that he’s looking back at me, reaching for his mum, the one person who is supposed to keep him safe, but I can’t get to him.

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