AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are you okay?” AJ asked, a trepidatious hand on her belly. His brow wrinkled in confusion. “What the hell?”
Madison smiled, her free hand smothering his. “It’s a kick.”
AJ smiled. “A little high five, huh?” He laughed a little, then winced.
Madison eyes the bruise forming on his cheek. “So much like your father,” she said with a sad smile.
He nodded. “I never got to call Alexdad.”
A sliver of heartache squeezed her heart. Should she tell him? He had a right to know the truth. Nothing in the world would change the fact that Alex wasn’t his father. And what if…
“AJ, there’s something you should know. About your dad.” I look in his eyes as he raises a brow.Just say it. “Alex isn’t your father.”
“What?”
“I said Alex isn’t your—”
He pressed a finger to his lips. “Shhh!”
Did he just shush me?
AJ closed his eyes, angling his head. He was listening hard.
Damian was speaking into the radio, his voice boisterous and loud. “I can’t understand a word he’s saying.”
“That’s because it’s all Greek. Literally.” AJ listened intently. “He says once he lands, someone will be taking us.”
“Do you know where?”
“No, but it has to be close. There’s not a lot of fuel. After Mark gave me my second lesson, he said he’d fill up sometime today so we could go up again.”
Madison tried to smile. “I’m so proud of you. Flying a helicopter,” she gushed low. “It was amazing.”
He shrugged. “I’ll work on my landing the next time Mark gives me a lesson.” His head sunk lower. “If there is a next lesson.”
Madison wrapped a protective hand around his arm. “We’re going to get out of this.”
“You can’t know that. And you don’t need to lie to me. I’m not a child.”
Madison gave him the truth—eye to eye. “Hey, the smartest people in the world are bound and determined to get us back. And when they set their minds to it, they’ll move continents to get us home. I believe in them. In the same way that I believe in you.”
“Shit,” AJ breathed.
“Language,” Madison countered swiftly, adding, “What is it?”
He shook his head. “I don’t understand it. Not fire. Burn.” Panicked, his eyes widen in fear. “He’s going to burn me.”
“Burn you?”
“Burning me…something about my dad. He’s telling the world. Make sure everyone knows. I don’t understand.” Helplessly, he asked, “What does it mean?”
Madison swallowed the lump in her throat. Damian was going to do it. The unthinkable. Expose AJ to the world as Stone’s son. AJ would never be safe. Even under a shield of steel-reinforced bubble wrap, he’d never have a life. Never do or be a normal kid.
Madison focused on their conversation. “Did he say when?”
AJ’s eyes were full of fear. “It’s already done. And…
“And?”
