Chapter 322: Where It Started

David’s POV

The airport terminal felt like a pressure cooker with the volume turned way too high.

Kayla stood in front of us at the security line, arms crossed, eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep and too much crying in the last twenty-four hours.

Caden was already half-asleep on my shoulder, his little head heavy against my neck, thumb in his mouth, soft snores puffing against my skin.

Holly stood right beside me, one hand on my lower back like she knew I needed the anchor.

Kayla was rattling off instructions like a drill sergeant who’d forgotten how to breathe.

“His EpiPen is in the front pocket of the diaper bag…blue cap, not red. He’s allergic to tree nuts, shellfish, and anything with sesame. I wrote it all down on the laminated card inside the side zipper. If he even smells peanut butter, you call me. Immediately. And he hates the texture of oatmeal…don’t force it. He’ll eat applesauce and yogurt, but only the vanilla kind, not the fruit swirl. Oh, and bedtime stories…he needs at least two, or he’ll wake up screaming at 3 a.m.”

Holly reached out and squeezed Kayla’s forearm gently. “Kayla. Breathe. Ava’s got this. She’s not new to the whole mommy thing. She’s got Liam, remember? That kid’s basically a walking instruction manual now. Caden will be fine. Better than fine.You have to relax and start coming up with ideas on how we will crush that bastard.”

By bastard, she meant Kayla's baby daddy…right?

Kayla’s lip trembled. She looked at her son…really looked…like she was memorizing every freckle.

Then she stepped forward and pressed a long kiss to Caden’s forehead but he didn’t even stir.

“Call me the second you land,” she whispered to Holly. “And text me pictures. Every hour if you have to. I would also love a video call with Cay when he wakes up.”

“You worry too much Kay. I've got this. I will not disappoint you,” Holly promised.

Kayla nodded at Holly's promise and then turned towards me. She gave me one last look…grateful, exhausted, a little broken. “Thank you, David. For going with them. For…everything.”

I nodded. Words felt too small. “We’ve got him. Go get some rest. We’ll make sure he's safe before we come back.”

She hugged Holly hard…then turned and walked away without looking back, shoulders shaking just once before she disappeared into the crowd.

Holly exhaled shakily. “Okay. That was harder than I thought.”

I shifted Caden higher on my shoulder and smiled at her. “As it should. I can't begin to imagine her fears and pain,” I said, shaking my head sadly.

Kayla sniffed as she nodded and said, “Let’s get through security before I start ugly-crying in public.”

I took her hand and gave it a light squeeze as I moved us towards security.

The flight was uneventful in the best way…three first-class seats, Caden curled against my chest the whole time, Holly’s head on my other shoulder. She slept most of the way, obviously tired and sore from our little exercise this morning.

I stared out the window at clouds and tried not to think about what was waiting on the other side.

Hours later and it was over. Touchdown in LA hit like a slap.

The second the wheels kissed the tarmac, my stomach knotted. LA. Again. After so long swearing I’d never set foot here unless it was to seal a highly important deal, or to rob a bank.

Holly felt the shift in my composure immediately. Her hand found mine and squeezed…hard.

Two black SUVs waited at the private exit…tinted windows, discreet Miller security detail in dark suits. One of them stepped forward, nodded politely as the others took our luggage.

“Miss Holly. Mr. Hunt. We’re here to escort you safely to the estate.”

I hesitated for a full second. My feet felt glued to the pavement.

Holly stepped in front of me, cupped my face with both hands, and forced me to look at her.

“Hey,” she said softly. “You're not alone. Never alone. If Orion or Ava so much as looks at you wrong…if they scare you, make you feel small, make you remember one second of the shit you went through here…I will disown them. On the spot. I’m not joking, David. I will walk away from my own blood if they hurt you.”

The look in her eyes wasn’t soft. It was steel wrapped in fire.

She meant every word. And from the way the security guy’s eyebrows shot up, he believed her too.

She must have done crazier things all those years.

I swallowed and nodded once.

She kissed me…quick, fierce…then offered to take Caden from my arms so I could breathe.

I carried him anyway. Needed the weight. Needed something real to hold onto. Besides, she must still be sore. I can't let her her carry Caden.

We slid into the back of the second SUV. Holly buckled Caden into the car seat between us. The driver pulled away smoothly, merging into traffic.

Familiar streets rolled past the window like a bad rerun.

The 405. The exit for Santa Monica. The billboard that used to advertise some overpriced tequila I once drank while pretending to be Ava’s ally…while feeding every secret straight to the Jamesons.

The corner coffee shop where I’d sat with Ava once, laughing like I wasn’t slowly selling out the only person who’d ever treated me like family. Aside from Norman.

More memories crashed in…sharp, ugly, relentless.

The day I’d stood outside Ava's hotel suite, heart pounding, knowing if she ever found out the truth, I’d be dead before dawn.

I was so foolish back then…didn't know better. Ava was a good person and I almost cost her everything because of a venomous family, whose only mission is to destroy and conquer.

I remembered the night I broke into their home and how everything went down the next morning.

The way Orion’s eyes had narrowed in that office when he shook my hand…like he already smelled the lie.

The way Ava had trusted me. Completely. And I’d betrayed her anyway.

I exhaled hard through my nose.

Holly’s hand slid over mine. She didn’t say anything…just rubbed slow circles on the back of my knuckles. I’m here. I’ve got you. I'm on your side.

The SUV turned onto the long private drive that led to the Miller estate.

Iron gates swung open silently.

The house came into view…massive, modern, all glass and stone and quiet power.

My hands clamped down on the edge of the seat so hard my knuckles bleached white.

I'll be seeing Ava again after so many years.

Holly leaned over Caden’s sleeping form and pressed her lips to my temple.

“Whatever happens in there,” she whispered, “we walk out together. Okay?”

I nodded as the car rolled to a stop and the doors opened.

And just like that…after years of running…I was stepping back into the lion’s den.

Hand in hand with Holly…Ava's little sister.

With a sleeping toddler between us.

And every ghost I’d tried to bury screaming in my head.