Page 28 of The One that Got Away

The crackling fire in the hearth cast a soft glow over the living room, where Lisa and Oliver lounged on the couch, lost in each other's company—the quiet evening wrapped around them like a comforting blanket. Her wavy brown hair fell gently around her shoulders as she tilted her head back against the couch, laughing at something Oliver had just said.

"Life's pretty good, isn't it?" Oliver mused, his eyes reflecting the flames, a contented smile playing on his lips. His hand found Lisa's.

"It is," Lisa agreed, her voice a warm murmur. She savored these moments of peace, knowing all too well how fleeting they could be. Her gaze lingered on Oliver, appreciating not only the rugged handsomeness that first drew her to him but also the steadfast support he'd become for her and the children.

Their tranquility shattered with the jarring ring of his phone. Lisa's heart skipped a beat, an old reflex from darker times. Oliver answered, his body tensing as he listened, the relaxed air around him evaporating instantaneously.

"Oliver, it's me—Ava," came the ragged, breathless voice on the other end. "I—I'm in trouble. They've found me." Panic threaded through her words, her fear palpable even through the phone.

"Slow down, Ava. What's happened?" Despite the alarming news, Oliver's voice was steady, a rock amidst the swirling tide of distress.

"I thought I could leave before they caught up, but it's too late. Please, you have to protect Daniel!" Ava's plea sliced through the room, her desperation striking Oliver straight in the heart.

"Of course, Ava, Daniel is safe with us. We'll come to you. Where are you?" Oliver's calm demeanor belied the urgency of their situation.

Lisa rose from the couch, her maternal instincts kicking into high gear as she thought of little Daniel asleep in the next room, unaware of the danger his mother faced. The boy with the messy dark hair and laughter that echoed joyfully through their home—how could she not protect him?

"Okay, Ava, stay hidden. We're on our way," Oliver assured her, ending the call. He met Lisa's worried eyes, his own reflecting the gravity of what they were about to do.

Without a word, they sprang into action. Lisa's mind raced as she considered their options. Fear gnawed at her, but she forced it down, drawing on the resilience that had carried her through her tumultuous past. She focused on the task at hand—ensuring Ava and Daniel’s safety.

"Oliver, we need to be smart about this," Lisa said, her voice firm. "You know the area better than anyone; think there's a route we can take to get to Ava without being seen?"

"Back roads," Oliver replied, already grabbing his coat. "It'll take longer, but we'll avoid any main streets."

"Good," Lisa nodded, her thoughts shifting into strategic mode. The family business might be struggling, but this was no time to dwell on financial pressures. Lives were at stake.

"Take the truck. It's less conspicuous than the car, and we might need the four-wheel-drive," she added, already running through self-defense maneuvers in her mind, something she had been a little too accustomed to in her previous life with her ex-husband.

Lisa's fingers trembled as she dialed Maggie's number, the screen of her phone glowing like a guiding light in the dimly lit kitchen. "Maggie, it's Lisa. I need you to come over right away," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, every word laced with urgency.

"Lisa? What's wrong?" came the immediate response, Maggie's tone alert and ready for action.

"It's Ava. She's in trouble, and we have to help her. Can you watch the kids?"

"Of course, I'll be right there." There was no hesitation in Maggie's reply, just the steadfast solidarity that had always been her way.

"Thank you," Lisa breathed out, a shard of relief piercing through the tight coil of fear in her chest. She ended the call and slipped the phone into her pocket, turning to find Oliver by the safe, his back to her, shoulders set in grim determination.

The soft click of the safe echoed too loudly in the quiet room as Oliver retrieved his gun, the metallic glint sending a shiver down Lisa's spine. Her heart skipped a beat, not from romance but from the cold touch of dread.

"Oliver…" Her voice cracked, betraying her anxiety.

He turned, the gun now securely holstered at his side.

“I know you got that after the encounter with my ex-husband last year,” Lisa said. “But that thing just scares me.

"It’s just for protection, Lisa," he assured her, his eyes meeting hers. He tried to offer a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Seeing you with that… it scares me," she admitted, hugging herself tightly as if to ward off the chilling thoughts that raced through her mind.

"Hey," Oliver stepped closer, reaching out to gently cup her face with his callused hands, the hands of a man who'd crafted their life together with love and woodwork. “I won't let anything bad happen to us, to Ava, to the kids. You trust me, right?"

Lisa nodded despite the knot of worry tightening in her gut. She trusted him more than anyone, but sometimes, love wasn't a shield against bullets.

"I hear Maggie downstairs. We’ll let her in, and then, let's go," she said, steeling herself with the resilience that had carried her through the toughest storms of her life.

"Remember, stay behind me once we get there," Oliver instructed, a protective edge to his voice. It was a reminder of the reality they were stepping into—a reality where being outnumbered and outgunned was a possibility they couldn't ignore. Oliver wanted her to stay home, but she needed to be at his side. It was non-negotiable.

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