(Jayden)


    I take a moment to gather myself, wiping away the lingering traces of tears. The kids are gone. Winona is gone.


    "I''m going to miss them."


    Cass nces up, her expression softening for a split second before she smirks. "Don''t go all sentimental on me now, Jayden." She punches me lightly on the arm, but I grab her wrist before she can pull away.


    "Enough," I snap, my tone sharp. Her eyes widen, but I don''t let go. "We''re going to talk. Now."


    "Talk about what?" she mutters, trying to sound defiant, but I can see the cracks in her armor.


    "Everything," I say tly. "Not here. Come on."


    I stand and motion for her to follow me. Reluctantly, she gets up, slinging her bag over her shoulder. I lead her out of the lounge and through the quiet airport corridors to the private exit where Viktor waits by the car. He''s leaning against the side, his sharp eyes scanning the area like a hawk.


    "Cass, meet Viktor," I say, opening the car door.


    Her eyes narrow as she looks him up and down. "So, you''re the infamous Viktor. Winona mentioned you."


    Viktor smirks faintly, but his gaze stays locked on her. "And you''re Cass. The one who stirs up trouble wherever she goes."


    She bristles instantly. "Excuse me?"


    "Get in," I interrupt, stepping between them. "Both of you."


    Cass slides into the car, grumbling under her breath, and I follow. Viktor gets inst, his presence looming as he settles into the driver''s seat.


    Once we''re moving, I turn to Cass. "Start talking. And don''t leave anything out because I''ve already had a call from Gus."


    She res at me, her defiance ring back to life. "What exactly does Gus know?"


    "That some crap went down over drugs," I say. "Winona said you''d been using again, but Gus said you''d been missing for weeks. Winona was worried. I want the truth, Cass."


    Her body tenses, and for a moment, I think she''s going to fight me on this. But then she exhales sharply, leaning back against the seat. "Fine. You want the truth? Here it is."


    She pauses, her gaze fixed on the window. "I owed Mia money. I didn''t have it, so I started selling for her to pay it off. Pills, mostly. It wasn''t supposed to be a big deal-just enough to clear my debt." Viktor''s gaze flicks to the rearview mirror, his expression darkening.


    "But then, one night, this guy wanted more pills than I had on me," Cass continues, her voice steady but strained. "He got pissed, used me of holding out on him. Said I was wasting his time." "And were you holding out on him?"


    Cass shrugs. "I needed some insurance."


    I shake my head.


    Her hands tighten into fists, her knuckles whitening. "He pulled a gun on me, Jayden. Right there in the alley. I thought I was done for."


    Fuck, anger bubbles just beneath the surface. "Go on."


    "Another guy, came across us and interrupted. Tried to help me," she pauses, her breath hitching. "The gun fired; the guy dropped to the ground. I ran. As fast as I could."


    Viktor lets out a low whistle. "You''re lucky you made it out alive."


    Cass whirls on him, her eyes zing. "I don''t need yourmentary, Viktor. Mind your own damn business."


    Viktor raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Your business is Jayden''s business. That makes it mine too."


    "Whatever," Cass says to Viktor and then keeps talking to me. "I had toy low and by the time I got back to my apartment to grab my passport and ID, the ce was torn up."


    She slumps back against the seat, her anger simmering but contained. "I grabbed what I could and got the hell out. Sold thest of the pills had to buy a one-way ticket to Europe. Worked my way to Brussels."


    I exhale sharply, running a hand through my hair. "And you didn''t think to call for help? Tell someone what was happening?"


    She shrugs, avoiding my gaze. "I had no phone. I didn''t want to drag anyone else into it. I figured I''d handle it myself."


    "Well, you didn''t," I snap. "And now you''re here, dragging your mess across the ocean."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "I''m clean now," she says firmly, meeting my eyes. "I told you, I''m done with all of it."


    "You''d better be," I say coldly. "Winona doesn''t need this stress. It could cost her the baby."


    Cass flinches, guilt shing across her face. "I didn''t tell her everything because I didn''t want to stress her out. She''s already dealing with enough."


    "She''s carrying my child," I say, my


    voice low but firm. "And that makes


    her my priority. My kids are my world, Cass. Even if Winona and f are in timbo, I will always protect her as the mother of my children"


    Cass crosses her arms, her jaw tightening. "You''re acting like she''s some delicate flower. She''s stronger than you give her credit for. Probably thanks to you and your


    dysfunctional ass."


    "Don''t start with me, Cass," I warn.


    She res at me. "Oh, I''m sorry. The crap she''s forgiven you for? You can''t even forgive her for hall pass week that you already agreed to."


    My patience snaps. "What happens between Winona and me is none of your business. Focus on keeping your own life sorted."


    The car pulls to a stop outside the estate. Viktor turns slightly, his sharp gaze on Cass. "Don''t make us regret letting you stay."


    Cass narrows her eyes, her defiance ring again. "I don''t need your approval, Viktor. Go parent someone else." "Trust me, thest person I''d want to parent, is you."


    "You don''t know me. So don''t hate on me."