sǝlɔᴉuoɹɥƆ

A safe place to land

Chapter Sixteen

Once I hit the freeway, I glance in the rearview mirror and see the kids' sleepy faces. "Time to put on your masks, kiddos," I say, my voice gentle but firm. They've done this a thousand times, so there's no protest, just the rustling of little hands pulling on the black surgical masks that my dad has always insisted we wear in public. I even pull one on myself—one of Dad's, oversized but comforting in its familiarity.

For hours, I drive aimlessly, my thoughts as scattered as the road signs we pass. I'm not sure where I'm going, but anywhere is better than here, better than facing the horror that's become our lives. Eventually, I pull into a parking structure somewhere near Leabolt, South Dakota. The kids are asleep in the backseat, their small bodies slumped against each other after a meal of chicken nuggets and fries. Blanket, who had just finished a bottle, is snuggled against his blanket, breathing softly.

The car is silent except for the faint hum of the engine cooling down. I lean my head against the steering wheel, letting the exhaustion and fear wash over me. My phone, which I had silenced earlier, buzzes incessantly in the cup holder. I already know without looking that the missed calls are from Aunt Janet, Uncle Jermaine, and a few from close friends like Honey and Slash. They're all worried, no doubt frantic after realizing I'd taken the kids and disappeared. But I can't deal with that right now. The only people who need to know where we are are Dad and Frank.

Deep down, I know I'm heading to Minnesota, to Prince. But part of me wonders if I'm welcome after this, with the media frenzy and the world turning its back on my father. The radio, if I dared turn it on, would probably be filled with endless coverage of his arrest and the disappearance of his children. The thought makes me sick.

A sharp knock on the window jolts me out of my thoughts. I whip my head around, hand instinctively reaching for the taser in the console. Relief floods through me when I see Romeo standing there, his face a mask of concern. I quickly unlock the door and step out, throwing my arms around him as the tears I've been holding back finally spill over.

"What are you doing here?" I ask through my sobs, clinging to him like a lifeline.

He rubs my back gently, his voice soothing. "He sent me. When we heard you and the little ones were missing, he sent me to find you. I have a PI friend who did a trace on your cell, and here I am."

A chuckle escapes me through the tears. "I never thought I'd be so happy to have my privacy invaded."

Romeo gives me a small, sad smile. "Come on, follow me to the car rental place. I'll drive us to Chanhassen."

I nod, wiping my eyes as I climb back into the car. The kids are still asleep as I pull out of the parking structure, following Romeo's car through the quiet, dark streets. It takes five hours to reach Chanhassen, with multiple stops for bathroom breaks and to grab more food for the kids. The drive is long, but Romeo's presence makes it bearable.

When we finally pull up to the Galpin house, Prince is already outside, waiting. The moment I step out of the car, he's there, pulling me into a tight embrace. He smells like home, and for the first time in days, I feel like I can breathe.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again!" he murmurs against my hair, his lips brushing my forehead, my cheeks, everywhere.

Blanket's cry interrupts the moment, his tiny voice tired and cranky. I pull back and open the back door, unbuckling him and lifting him into my arms. He settles against me, his little head resting on my shoulder as he lets out a contented sigh.

"It's okay, Blanket, no more tears," I whisper, kissing his forehead.

"Sissy, can we get out? My legs hurt," Prince Michael asks, rubbing his eyes. Paris just looks around with wide, curious eyes, taking everything in.