Dancing with a stranger

Chapter|21

Kian woke me with a soft kiss.
"Good morning, baby. I'll be back," he said, grinning. "I've got something to do, but Grace will be back shortly, and Charlie is keeping watch on both of you."

I got up slowly, every movement heavy with the ache of not being able to hold Aaliyah. Grace and Charlie arrived with coffee and breakfast. "Thank God," I said, hugging them both. Charlie was like a brother—if I were in trouble, he and Grace would show up ready to go to war.

I finished my sandwich when my phone buzzed. A video message. My stomach dropped. Kian was tied to a chair, beaten, mouth taped. I bolted upright, showing Grace.
"I have to go," I said, shoving my shoes on as Charlie handed me the car keys.

I raced to the warehouse, bursting through the door. Kian was there in the middle of the room, but the place was empty. I pulled out the knife hidden in my boot and cut the ropes. Pulling the tape from his mouth, he croaked, "Go... they'll be back any moment."

Footsteps echoed in the hallway. My pulse spiked. I hid behind a crate, taser in hand. Two large men stormed in and dragged Kian into another room.

I stepped into the open, shouting, "Where are you, bitch? You can't hide behind phones and computers forever! Come out and face me! Just leave my family alone!"

A door opened, and she appeared—perfect hair in a bun, a sleek red dress, Louboutin heels clicking against the concrete. She stopped halfway, folding her arms.

"Well, well... the little whore coming to save her family," she sneered. "Oh, boys, bring him out!"

The two men dragged Kian out, throwing him across the floor. I lunged to him, but she smirked, shaking a finger.

Then a familiar voice: Sean, holding a pink blanket. "Oh, look—we're a family again. Minus your father. What a sight, wouldn't that be?"

Suddenly, the doors blasted open. Shots rang out. I ducked behind crates. Peeking, I saw my father followed by Lorenzo, Charlie in a vest and armed, and then James—Kian's father—with two men. Charlie slid a gun to Kian, who scrambled to his feet.

I saw Sean placing Aaliyah in a crib. Without thinking, I lunged, grabbing him by the shirt and throwing him to the ground. He rolled, swinging, but I blocked his punches, kicking him across the room. I rose, delivering blow after blow, making his nose bleed.

"I knew you were a no-good little bitch," he sneered. I slammed my head into him. He went limp. "Nighty night, bitch," I muttered, scooping up Aaliyah.

Then the smell hit me—gasoline. I ran outside to see Leanne pouring it all around the building.

"The building's going up! Get out now!" I screamed. Hugging Aaliyah tight, I ran toward the car. Flames roared behind us, consuming the warehouse in a terrifying inferno.

I collapsed to my knees, strapping Aaliyah into her seat, sobbing. Heat and smoke pressed in, but her small voice called out from the backseat, pulling me back.

"Hey, sweetheart. It's okay. We're okay," I whispered, reaching through the rearview mirror to squeeze her tiny hand. The world around me was chaos, but I had to stay strong—for her.

My heart raced, desperate to go back into the fire for Kian. But I couldn't. Not now. Not with Aaliyah depending on me.

This wasn't over. I started the car and sped off into the night, the flames behind us casting long shadows. Wherever Kian was, he needed me. And I wasn't stopping until I had him back.