The aircraft climbed through the storm.

Norah barely spoke for twenty minutes.

Roman barely looked away from the twins.

Leo woke first.

A small whimper became a cry.

Norah immediately shifted Isabella and reached for the diaper bag.

Roman watched her struggle.

“Give him to me.”

“No.”

“Norah.”

“You've never held a baby.”

“I've handled more complicated things.”

“This isn't one of your businesses.”

Leo cried louder.

Passengers began looking over.

Roman held out his hands.

“Give me my son.”

Something about the words stopped her.

My son.

Norah hesitated before carefully transferring Leo into Roman's arms.

Roman held him like an unexploded bomb.

“Support his head,” Norah whispered.

“I am.”

“No, you're holding him like a football.”

“I've never held a football.”

Despite herself, Norah almost laughed.

Roman noticed.

For the first time since recognizing him, she didn't look terrified.

“Like this?”

She adjusted his arm.

Their hands touched.

Both went still.

Then Leo stopped crying.

Roman stared down.

The baby blinked up at him.

“Why'd he stop?”

“He likes being held.”

“He doesn't know me.”

“Babies don't care about your reputation.”

Roman's mouth twitched.

“Smart kid.”

Norah looked away.

Roman's phone buzzed again.

This time he answered.

“What?”

Carlo sounded tense.

“Things changed. Brennan's people sent word. They want an answer before midnight.”

“No.”

“They're offering a meeting.”

“No.”

“Roman—”

“My children are sitting beside me.”

Silence.

Carlo knew better than to ask questions.

“Your what?”

“You heard me.”

Another pause.

“Boss... congratulations?”

Roman disconnected.

Norah stared at him.

“You told him?”

“He'll find out eventually.”

“That's exactly what I was afraid of.”

Roman's expression changed.

“What?”

“Your people knowing about them.”

“They would protect them.”

“They would make them targets.”

Roman looked at Leo.

Norah continued.

“You see enemies everywhere because you've spent your entire adult life creating them.”

“I kept you safe.”

“You kept guards outside our bedroom.”

“To protect you.”

“I couldn't buy groceries without someone following me.”

“You were Roman Moretti's wife.”

“That was the problem.”

The words silenced him.

Norah took a breath.

“When I found out I was pregnant, I imagined them growing up inside your world. Bodyguards at school. Bulletproof cars. Learning which windows to stay away from.”

Roman looked toward the dark window.

“You thought disappearing was safer?”

“Yes.”

“Was it?”

Norah didn't answer.

Roman noticed the worn cuffs of her sweater.

The cheap diaper bag.

The exhaustion.

“Where have you been?”

“Connecticut. Then Vermont.”

“Working?”

“When I could.”

“You had access to money.”

“Your money.”

“You were my wife.”

“I stopped being your wife the night I realized I was more afraid of your life than I was of leaving it.”

Roman looked down at Leo.

“You should've told me.”

“You would've stopped me.”

“Yes.”

“That’s why.”

The answer was brutal because it was true.

A flight attendant approached.

“Sir, would you like something to drink?”

Roman normally would have ordered whiskey.

He looked at the baby.

“Water.”

Norah raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You expected whiskey.”

“Yes.”

“So did I.”

For several minutes, neither spoke.

Then Roman asked quietly:

“Did you ever plan to tell me?”

Norah looked at Isabella.

“Yes.”

“When?”

“When I believed you could meet them without taking them from me.”

Roman turned sharply.

“I would never take your children.”

“You just called them yours.”

“They're ours.”

Norah finally looked at him.

That one word mattered.

Ours.

Roman handed Leo carefully back.

“Where are you going in Denver?”

“My sister's.”

Roman frowned.

“You don't have a sister.”

Norah went still.

Roman saw it.

“You're lying.”

“Roman—”

“Where are you really going?”

Before she could answer, the captain's voice came over the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Denver has temporarily suspended arrivals due to worsening conditions.”

Norah closed her eyes.

Roman looked toward the cockpit.

The announcement continued.

“We'll be diverting to Colorado Springs.”

Norah whispered something under her breath.

Roman heard it.

“No.”

He turned.

“What?”

She stared at the window.

“I can't go there.”

“Why?”

Her face had gone pale again.

“Because someone is waiting for me in Denver.”

Roman's eyes narrowed.

“Who?”

Norah swallowed.

“Someone who knows who you are.”

---