We did it. But that was just the beginning. The scariest thing was still to come: the reason why. Why would the man I loved want to get rid of his family?
I had time to think things over because Eli was secure next door at Mrs. Leverne’s. I was going to lose it, but I couldn’t allow worry take over. I felt a lot of feelings at once: betrayal, worry, and confusion. How could Jared, the man who once cradled Eli as a baby and cried tears of joy, hurt us so badly?
The clock rang loudly in the quiet house as I moved around the living room, my mind racing. The microwave’s computerized numbers flashed in the dark, making me feel like time was going by. I had to find out. I needed to know.
I remembered the old laptop that Jared had said was too old to be usable and that I had put away in the hall closet. The password was easy to remember because it was the year Eli was born and the date of our wedding. Even though it was a long shot, I had to try.
When the laptop began up, it made a whirring sound and the screen flickered while it loaded. I clicked on a lot of folders, and my heart raced at each one. Then I noticed a folder with the scary name “Project Phoenix.”
The numbers made the truth look like a scary puzzle. Jared lives two lives. He was in a hidden club that traded lies and secrets, a world of spying and betrayal. It was a world where problems that weren’t solved stayed that way.
Now everything is obvious. The late nights, the silent phone calls, and the trips that came out of nowhere. But why us? Why his family?
There was a paper hidden deep in the archives that scared me to death. It was a list of debts and possessions, like a ledger, containing people who were regarded to be disposable. There were our names, glaring back at me, with the term “compromised” next to them.
I felt terrible. My husband had let us down. For what? Money, power, and safety? The reasons didn’t matter. He had chosen his side, and staying alive was the most crucial thing.
I need to accomplish something quickly. Jared would soon find out that his plan had not worked. I shut my laptop and felt stronger in my decision. I had to do everything I could to protect Eli. There wasn’t enough time to think about being sad or hurt.
I took a few things I needed and left the house to go back to Mrs. Leverne’s. She was a lifesaver, providing her a place to stay and warmth without asking questions. I knew it wouldn’t last long. We had to disappear, like ghosts in the air.
When I saw the mix of fear and faith in Eli’s eyes, I swore to keep him safe. It was hard to see what was ahead, but one thing was clear: we were playing a risky game, and I was going to win.
With each step away from my old life, I let go of the things that were holding me back. I wasn’t just a wife or a mother anymore. I was a warrior ready to fight for the only thing that mattered now: our future.