Don't ever leave me.

The two kids were picked up as if they weighed nothing but the armed men were careful with them because of the instruction from the boss.

Nathan and Natalie were taken to the car waiting for them.

Flanked by military men with fierce expressions and huge guns on both sides, Natalie was not fazed or disturbed by the sight. The kids were communicating with their eyes, Nathan wanted to know what went wrong but Natalie just shrugged and told him to calm down.

"Who sent you to capture us?"

The question caught the soldiers off guard and they were torn between answering her or not. After telling their captain the situation, he agreed to tell them about their rescue mission.

"Hey kids, we are here on a rescue mission".

"You are taking me to that Uncle in Italy?"

"No, who told you that?" The captain laughed awkwardly.

"Miss Snow said it".

"Who is Miss Snow?"

"She is the director of this orphanage".

The soldiers were amazed at her intelligent answers and questions.

The captain immediately gave orders for the whole orphanage to be surrounded.

The director, Miss Snow was handcuffed and taken to a specially sealed van.

Before she entered the van, her eyes clashed with Natalie's. This girl is her nemesis, her undoing.

Before she had time to scowl at Natalie She was pushed into the van and they drove off with the other staff in another van. The whole orphanage was wrecked and the kids were rescued. The News made rounds in the whole country and beyond.

Two hours ago...

Lucas had instructed his men to find out every detail about the orphanage.

His men sent back the results of the investigation. He trembled when he saw the reports. Darn it! This is more serious than he thought.

📳"Find out the exact location the kids are being sent to after leaving the orphanage".

He scrolled through his contact and dialled the President's phone number.

📳"Mr Liam, it's my pleasure to fulfil your request. What would you want me to do for you?"

📳"There is this orphanage in Brooklyn. They are doing shady business in there. The kids are sent somewhere after some time. Look into this issue".

📳"Really? In this country, such a thing is going on?"

📳"I have done an investigation and what I found out is terrible. I will send the details to you".

Lucas ended the call and rested on the seat. His assistant was worn out.

"Get some rest. when once we land in New York City we have a lot of work to do".

His assistant wanted to argue with Lucas but a glare from the boss shut him up.

Lucas took his windbreaker and went to his inbuilt suite in the jet. Falling on the bed, he slept off. The dark eye circles were prominent and his face looked a little haggard.

The assistant pulled a duvet over him and closed the door behind him.

Violet kept pacing up and down in her living room.

"Miss Oliver, I think you should relax".

"Lizzy, how can I relax if those kids are in harm's way?"

"The kids? Miss Oliver, you have kids?" Lizzy shrieked in excitement.

Violet rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Hey, don't you dare roll your eyes at me".

Violet laughed at Lizzy's playful antics. She felt relieved for a second.

"Someone is now laughing. You don't need to stress yourself so much. Mr Lucas is just a call away".

"Lizzy I have called him and he promised to settle the matter. Up till now, I'm yet to get any feedback. It's been over an hour now".

"Miss Oliver, I think we have visitors here".

"Really?" She stumbled forward as she ran towards the door.

"Be careful Miss Oliver" Lizzy yelled.

Violet opened the door and came face to face with the captain of the battalion.

Using her eyes to search all over for the kids she found them in the car a few feet away from the porch.

Sprinting towards the car, the kids who saw her jumped up in the car. Violet grabbed the car door and yanked it open. Nathan and Natalie jumped into her arms.

The trio went emotional and after some time, she took them into the house. Snow was falling heavily outside so Violet scooped the little munchkins into her arms and ran towards the porch.

"Thank you very much for rescuing them. I appreciate it", she was all smiles despite the cold weather outside.

"It's our duty Miss..."

"Oliver", the captain stretched out his hand for a handshake but Violet declined politely. The kids' countenance changed and they immediately resented the captain.

"I'm sorry but I need to warm them up", Violet turned on her heels.

"They are related to you?"

Stopping in her track, "I find myself emotionally connected to them. Does that count?"

The captain heaved a sigh of relief.

"Can we meet up for lunch, dinner or something?"

The other soldiers coughed awkwardly and shifted on their feet.

Was he courting death? Some of Lucas' men sighed on his behalf.

One of Lucas' men came forward and whispered into his ear.

His face paled and he retreated.

Violet wondered what made his behaviour take a 360 turn.

She couldn't be bothered with them and took the two kids into the house.

"Lizzy please turn on the house warmer".

"I'm on it Miss Oliver, these are the kids? They are so beautiful and cute", Lizzy shrieked in excitement.

"Yes, they are super cute".

The kids' eyes grew wide as they took in everything in the house. What amazed them most was Lizzy's emotional voice which sounded like a human being.

Soaking them in hot water, she cleaned them up thoroughly and changed their clothing. She had done some last-minute online shopping. Her maternal instinct made her choose their sizes of clothes and footwear and it fitted them perfectly.

She whipped up some light dishes and set the table. Calling out to the kids who were watching the kiddies programme on a large screen, she made them sit comfortably and began to feed them.

Nathan and Natalie took turns asking Violet to feed them. Although Natalie acts like she is an adult but she was still young at heart hence she enjoyed every bit of the evening.

After a long day, they fell on top of each other on the couch.

Violet felt satisfied as she carried them to her room, she had decided to let them sleep in her room so that she can attend to their needs in time.

After covering them with the duvet, her phone rang and she picked up.

📳"Treasure".

📳"Lucas, thank you so much for bringing back these kids to me", she teared up.

📳"You going emotional makes my heart break into millions of pieces. Anyway I didn't do anything. I only gave away the information to the appropriate authorities and they acted on it".

📳"Really?"

📳"Yes, check the news. Anyway, thank you for trusting me to handle that issue. It means that I'm establishing myself in your heart?"

Violet blushed and nodded but she soon realized that Lucas couldn't see her.

📳"Of course".

📳"Treasure, you mean everything to me. Don't ever leave me".

Violet was stunned, that should have been her line. How did it become his? How will she tell him that she is not the chaste lady he thinks she is? That she was defiled by an unknown man and she gave birth to two kids whom she doesn't know about their whereabouts.

📳"Lucas..."

Lucas was understanding enough to know that she may have some emotional barriers she may be dealing with at the moment.

📳"Take all the time you need. There is no need to rush for any reason but whatever is your final decision, don't leave me for any reason", his voice became hoarse.

📳"Mmmmm, I've heard you".

📳"How are the kids? Are they settling well and are they comfortable with the atmosphere?"

📳"They adapted faster than I thought. Thank you for everything Lucas".

📳"It's my pleasure to serve you but if you continue to thank me, you would have to do that in kind. I think that would work faster".

📳"Lucas...", she tried her teeth.

Whispering a few words only both of them could hear, Violet blushed and her face turned red. After sharing some words, she hung up so that the man could rest.

She turned to look at the two kids who slept peacefully. Running her hands through Natalie's hair, it was so soft and almost reached her waist.

This brought back memories as she remembered how long and soft her hair was. A few years back, Mrs Miller had forcefully made her cut her long hair which almost reached her knees.

She made a mental note to get their hair treated the next day. Violet slept by the end of the bed so that she could protect them in case they rolled over. A beautiful smile graced her lips and she slept off

Giovanni landed in New York City, a few hours after the military might have cleared out the whole orphanage.

His men lowered their heads and he sensed something was amiss.

"Can someone tell me what is going on here?"

"I'm sorry boss, we came an hour late. The whole place is sealed off and the US Government has taken up the case".

" Darn it! Who was to be in charge of the operation?"

A trembling subordinate came forward and his knees were shaking.

Giovanni had no words for him. Firing two shots into his heart, blood splattered everywhere.

"Make sure that girl is found. Overturn the entire city and even the country. I'm giving you 24hrs to get me that girl else be ready to lose your miserable lives".

"Boss", a subordinate sprawled on the ground in humility.

"I have no time for unnecessary dramas".

"I heard a secret entity is involved in this case because the government wouldn't have taken drastic action to clear off the whole orphanage".

"Who is this person courting death?" Turning to his assistant, "Go make investigations, find out who is this secret entity and where that girl is".

"Yes, boss".

"Boss, I'm afraid things are not looking good. The ammunition container we intercepted has been recovered and..."

"What?"

"Your old man has been captured and his house has been razed down including ten of our secret dens".

"Luciano....." Giovanni gritted his teeth and the cracking sounds made his subordinates shift away from him.

His phone rang almost immediately and he picked it up.

📳"Giovanni", the old man's weak voice sounded.

📳"Dad, how are you? Did they hurt you?"

📳"Giovanni, I'm an old man. Get me out of here"

📳"Luciano, just you wait and see".

A deep voice sounded chuckled and Giovanni squinted his eyes.

📳"I can see that you have stepped on so many toes. I'm worse than Luciano and if you meet my demands I release your old man else.."

📳"Who are you?" He choked on his saliva

📳"Meet me at the port of Messina in 7 hours"

📳"How is that possible?"

📳"Your choice", the latter hung up leaving Giovanni frustrated.

"We are leaving for Italy now. Get the jet ready", he instructed his assistant.

"Boss, what about the issue at hand?"

"I'm saving my old man first. Darn it!", he roared.

The assistant gulped down nothing and they left their secret hideout.