Chapter Fifteen

It felt as if they had been driving for hours when they finally pulled up to an abandoned warehouse that was surrounded by shipping containers. They were on a pier that no one seemed to use anymore. "Where are we?" Marie asked as she held Seraphina close to her chest.

Evangeline sighed as she stood in front of them. "We're on the edge of town. Jaxon had put this pier in his file when he was doing his research. It's part of the job." she shrugged. "No one ever comes out here. It's too far away from the town so that's good for us. No one will bother us."

Braydon nodded as he held Jordan in one arm and wrapped his other around Marie. "We're ready, Evangeline." He said firmly.

She nodded and turned towards the warehouse. "Come with me."

They went inside the warehouse and Braydon and Marie looked around in horror. "I know it's pretty disgusting here but it's the perfect place," Evangeline muttered. "This won't take very long. Seraphina doesn't need to be restrained. Neither does Jordan. Just have to kind of mess up his hair a bit."

Braydon ruffled Jordan's hair a bit before looking at Evangeline. "How's that?" He asked.

Evangeline gave him a nod. "Perfect." She sighed as she pulled out a small bed for Seraphina and Jordan. "Let's have the kids sit here for a few minutes while we take your photos." She said as she laid a clean blanket over it.

Marie laid Seraphina down while Braydon set Jordan down. "Stay right here buddy. Okay?" He said quietly. "Mommy and daddy will be right there." He said, gesturing to the two chairs that were in the corner. "Uncle Alessandro will be right here next to you."

Jordan nodded with a frown as he looked around the warehouse. He was too young to understand what was happening but he knew that it wasn't something normal.

Evangeline sighed as she opened a small chest. Inside was makeup and a bit of dirt. Along with wipes and a brush so they could clean up when they were done. Next to it were ropes and duct tape to tie them up. She turned to Marie and Braydon with a frown. "Okay, it's time." She gestured to two chairs that she had put in the corner. "I need you both to sit in these chairs for me. I have to do just a bit of a make-over for you two. Nikolai won't believe it otherwise." She explained as they sat down.

It only took her a few minutes to work her magic and make it seem as if they had been kidnapped from their home. With the dirt she made it look as if they had been taken in the middle of the night. "Okay. Marie could you just ruffle your hair a bit? Make it messy." She said as she took a step back to look between the two of them.

Marie nodded and messed up her hair. "That's perfect," Evangeline said quietly. She grabbed the rope and duct tape. "Alright. I'm going to tie your hands behind your back and your legs to the chair. I can make the knots loose so they won't bother you without ruining the photos." She sighed as she stood behind Braydon. "So let me know if I make them too tight. I don't always realize how tight I make my knots."

They nodded in understanding as Evangeline started tying them up. Once she was sure the ropes weren't too tight she stood up and grabbed the tape. "Last thing for this part." She said as she stood in front of them. "It'll only take me a minute or two to get the couple of photos that I need."

She put a strip of tape over each of their mouths before grabbing her camera off the table. She took a few photos from a couple of different angles before setting her camera back on the table. She pulled the tape off of their mouths as carefully as she could and untied them. "Alright." She said as she tossed the rope on the table. "Next I'm going to need a couple with Marie and the kids. Then Braydon tied up on his knees." She huffed out a rough breath of air as she grabbed the small jar of dirt. "May I?" She asked as she looked at Braydon and Marie.

They both nodded in agreement. She knelt in front of Jordan. "Hey there, little man." She said in a comforting voice. "Would it be alright if I put some of this on your face and arms?" She questioned as she held up the jar of dirt.

He nodded but she could see the confusion in his eyes as she got started. She used a bit of the dirt mixed with water to make the photos believable. It didn't take her long to get him ready. Once she was done she gave him a soft smile. "All done little man." She held up the dirt. "Do you want to help me with your sister?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

He looked to his parents before nodding with a small smile. "Alright. Your sister is small so we don't need a lot. Just enough for her face."

Jordan carefully rubbed some of the dirt on Seraphina's face. "Oh, that's perfect little man," Evangeline said after a few minutes.

Jordan beamed proudly as he turned to his parents. "I helped." He said proudly.

They both smiled at him. "That's great, buddy," Braydon said softly.

Evangeline blew out a rough breath. "Okay. Let's get all the photos I need of Marie and the kids first. Then I'm afraid I'm going to have to tie you up again Braydon." She said as she looked at him with sad eyes.

Braydon nodded in understanding as he gently rubbed Marie's back. "Anything to keep my family safe."

She gave him a small smile before turning to look at Marie. "If you could grab Seraphina and Jordan. We're going to have you in the corner where the chairs are."

Marie did as she asked as Evangeline moved the chairs out of the way. Marie huddled in the corner with Jordan and Seraphina. Evangeline used a little bit of water on Marie and Jordan's cheeks. She grabbed her camera again and took a few photos from different angles just as she did earlier. She set the camera down and grabbed the makeup that she had brought with her. "I promise this won't bother your skin and I have plenty of wipes so you guys can get cleaned up once we're done."

"Okay," Marie said as she held her kids close to her chest.

Evangeline made quick work of making the three of them look like they were dead. She took several photos before nodding in satisfaction. "Alright, Marie. You three are done." She grabbed the pack of wipes and the brush and handed them to Marie. "The makeup and dirt will come right off with these but you'll have just enough time to take showers before we have to head to the airport."

Marie blew out a rough breath as she stood up with Seraphina in her arms. "I truly appreciate you helping us Evangeline." She said softly as she held Serpaphina close to her chest. "I'm also happy that Alessandro finally found you, but I have to ask. Why are we doing all of this in the middle of the night?"

Evangeline smiled at Jordan as he played with Alessandro. He was pretending to be a zombie as he chased Alessandro around the warehouse. "I understand that this must be hard for you. Trust me I have done this so many times. I always do it in the middle of the night for two reasons. Reason one is that the darkness is the perfect cover. Not many people can see clearly enough in the dark to know what's going on. Even some of the best assassins have a hard time seeing in the dark. The second reason is that assassins know for a fact that most people are asleep right now. So they would never think to watch you throughout the night."

Marie nodded in understanding. "That makes sense." She said quietly as she looked at the ground with tears in her eyes.

Evangeline gently touched her shoulder. "This may be tough and it may take some time to get used to, but I promise that no matter what you and your family will be safe."

Marie looked at Seraphina for a minute before asking in a whisper. "Will we ever be able to come home?"

Evangeline sighed as she watched Alessandro with Jordan with awe and love in her heart. After a couple of minutes, she looked back at Marie and Seraphina. "I'm not sure how long it'll take, but I promise that I will do everything that I can to bring you and your family back home."

Marie smiled with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Evangeline."

Evangeline gave her a reassuring smile before walking over to where Braydon was standing. "Okay, Braydon. Your turn, but this shouldn't take long." She said as she grabbed the ropes again.

Braydon nodded and followed her as she went back to the same corner. While Marie cleaned up the kids and herself, Evangeline took Braydon's photos. Tied up on his knees. Then she had him lay flat on the ground as if he had had his throat cut. It only took Evangeline about fifteen minutes to get all of the photos that she needed. "Okay, we're all done." She said as she started putting everything away.

Braydon quickly cleaned himself up before helping Marie get the kids into the car. "Alright," Evangeline said as she tossed her stuff in the trunk and looked at her watch. "You have two hours before the jet leaves. Go home. Take showers and grab your things." She said as she turned to look at Braydon.

Braydon nodded as he held the passenger door open for Marie. "Thank you, Evangeline," he said before getting in the driver's seat.

She smiled at him as she climbed into Alessandro's car.

They made their way back home, Braydon taking his family home to get ready for their flight, and Alessandro and Evangeline going to Alessandro's to relax until it was time to leave.

When they got to Alessandro's they sat on a couch in front of a stone fireplace that hadn't been lit yet. He couldn't take his eyes off of Evangeline as he thought about everything that she was doing to help Braydon and his family. "You are an amazing woman." He softly said to Evangeline as he started playing with her hair.

She blushed as she looked down at her lap. "I don't think so." She mumbled.

He grinned as he tilted her head up gently. "I know so little angel."

She shook her head with a small smile as she thought about how she got so lucky to meet Alessandro.

They snuggled together on his couch while they spoke about their goals and dreams. They talked about the good parts of their lives and everything else.

Before they knew it time had flown by and it was time to get the Rinaldi family to the airport. They drove to the Rinaldi family's home and rang the doorbell once they had parked out front. Marie answered the door with a tired smile. "We're all ready and our things are already in the trunk." She said with exhaustion all over her face.

Evangeline gently touched her shoulder. "I know it's been a long night but it's almost over."

Marie nodded with a tired sigh.

They made their way to the airport and drove right up to the jet. "Okay," Evangeline said as they stood in front of their cars while a couple of flight attendants grabbed their things out of the trunk. "There are only a few people who know where you are going or that you're even leaving. Alessandro, the flight crew, a couple of some of my very dear friends, and myself. The friends that are helping us are Ethan and Savannah. They will be meeting you at the airport in Brisbane and will take you to your new home. Ethan will explain the security system and whatnot." She scoffed. "After all, it's his system. Then he'll call me to let me know that you guys made it there safely."

Braydon blew out a long breath before asking. "Do you know how long we'll have to stay there?" He looked over his family with a creased forehead.

Evangeline shook her head with a frown and sad eyes. "I'm sorry but I'm not sure how long you guys will be there. I can promise you just like I promised Marie earlier. I will do everything that I can to get you and your family back home as quickly as I can."

Braydon nodded with a sigh of resignation. "Thank you."

She gave him a small smile and watched as the Rinaldi family got on the jet.

Once the jet was out of sight Evangeline turned to Alessandro. "Alessandro. It's not going to be easy to bring them back." She sighed heavily as she looked up at him. "The only way to bring them back is to take Nikolai out. Which is just about impossible to do."

He looked off in the direction that the jet had flown off in with furrowed eyebrows. After a minute or two, he looked back at Evangeline. "You say it's just about impossible." He said as he wrapped his arms around her. "Is there a way to take him out?" He questioned quietly.

She bit her lip as she looked down at her feet. "There is one way." She whispered out. "It'll be a bit difficult and very dangerous."

He hugged her close as he softly said. "I'll help you in every way that I can, angel."

She laid her head on his chest right over his heart. "This is going to be rough." She mumbled into his chest.

He rubbed her back soothingly. "I'll be right here with you my angel. We can make it through this together."

She hugged him tightly as she nodded into his chest.

After a few minutes, he pulled away from her just enough to look down at her. "Come on. Let's get you home."

She nodded again. "I have to get these photos into a file with a report for Jaxon. He'll need it by tomorrow." She explained as she tiredly rubbed at her eyes.

He pressed a kiss to her temple as they walked to his car. "You need to get some sleep, little angel."

She yawned as she rubbed at her face again. "I am pretty exhausted." She muttered as they got into his car.

"We'll have you home soon enough angel." He said with an adoring smile.

She sent a sleepy smile his way. "Thank you, Alessandro."

He drove her home and parked in her driveway. "Alright angel." He said softly as he turned to face her. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She smiled as she faced him. "I can't wait. I'll see you tomorrow Alessandro."

He leaned over the middle console and kissed her lips. "Goodnight my angel. Have sweet dreams." He whispered against her lips.

She smiled as she kissed him back. "Goodnight Alessandro. Sweet dreams."

She gave him a final smile before climbing out of the car and heading inside.