She's My Mother

The revelation of Greg's betrayal left a heavy cloud over Mia and Alexander. The safehouse felt tainted, no longer the sanctuary it was meant to be. As Greg's footsteps faded into the night, Alexander stood by the door, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Mia sat in the living room, her hands cradling her growing belly. She felt a storm of emotions—fear, anger, and, above all, exhaustion. She glanced at Alexander, who hadn't moved from his spot by the door. His body radiated tension, but his silence was deafening.

"Alexander," she called softly.

He turned to her, his expression a mixture of anger and guilt. "This is my fault," he said, his voice low but strained. "I should've seen it. I trusted him too much."

"It's not your fault," Mia said, trying to steady her voice. "Greg made his choices. You couldn't have known."

Alexander sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair. "I need to make this right, Mia. I can't let anyone else come close enough to hurt you or the baby."

Mia stood and walked over to him, placing a hand on his chest. "We'll get through this together. But we need to be smart, Alexander. Greg wasn't working alone. Whoever's pulling the strings is still out there."

Alexander nodded, his mind already racing with strategies. "We can't stay here. It's only a matter of time before they come for us."

"Where will we go?" Mia asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"I have another property," Alexander said. "More secure, completely off the grid. It's farther away, but it'll give us time to regroup."

Mia nodded, trusting his judgment. She knew Alexander was capable of protecting them, but the constant running was taking its toll on her, both physically and emotionally.

As they packed essentials for the move, Mia noticed Alexander sorting through a small metal box. Inside were old photographs, documents, and a few items she didn't recognize.

"What's that?" Mia asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Alexander hesitated before answering. "Pieces of my past," he said quietly.

Curiosity piqued, Mia leaned closer. "Can I see?"

He handed her a photograph, his expression unreadable. The picture was old, slightly faded, but it showed a young Alexander standing beside a woman with striking features and piercing eyes.

"She looks like you," Mia whispered.

"She's my mother," Alexander said, his voice distant. "She died when I was a teenager. Cancer."

Mia felt a pang of sadness. She could see the pain in his eyes, the loss that still haunted him. "I'm sorry," she said softly.

Alexander nodded but didn't say anything. Instead, he pulled out another photograph, this one of a man in a military uniform. "And this was my father. He… wasn't a good man."

"What happened?" Mia asked, sensing the weight of his words.

Alexander hesitated, his jaw tightening. "He was involved in things he shouldn't have been. Dangerous things. When he died, I vowed to be nothing like him. But sometimes…" He trailed off, his gaze distant. "Sometimes I wonder if I've become exactly what I hated."

Mia reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. "You're nothing like him, Alexander. You protect people. You protect us."

Her words seemed to ground him, and he nodded. "Thank you, Mia. I needed to hear that."

By dawn, they were on the road, heading to the new safehouse. It was a grueling drive, but Mia felt a renewed sense of hope. She glanced at Alexander as he drove, his focus unwavering. Despite everything, she felt safe with him.

The new safehouse was nestled deep in the mountains, surrounded by dense woods and equipped with state-of-the-art security. As they settled in, Alexander made it his mission to uncover the truth behind Greg's betrayal.

Mia, meanwhile, focused on her pregnancy. Her belly had grown significantly, and she felt the baby's movements more frequently. It was a strange but beautiful reminder of the life they were fighting to protect.

But as the days passed, Mia couldn't shake the feeling that their enemies were closer than they realized. Every shadow seemed to hold a threat, every sound a potential danger.

And then, one evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, there was a knock at the door.

Alexander tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for his gun. Mia stood frozen, her heart racing.

"Stay back," Alexander said, his voice low and firm.

He approached the door cautiously, peering through the peephole. To his surprise, it wasn't an enemy. It was a woman—a stranger with dark hair and an air of urgency about her.

"Who are you?" Alexander demanded through the door.

The woman looked directly at the peephole, her expression serious. "My name is Elena," she said. "I have information about the people hunting you."

Alexander exchanged a glance with Mia, who was watching from a safe distance. They both knew it could be a trap.

But they also knew they couldn't ignore it.

"Let her in," Mia said quietly.

Alexander hesitated but ultimately opened the door. Elena stepped inside, her presence commanding and enigmatic.

"I don't have much time," she said, her voice steady. "But you need to know the truth about what's happening. It's bigger than you think."