Azrael couldn't release Little Roe even in the car; the boy was clutching his dress shirt.
His small body was damp with sweat from the hours he had spent trapped inside the trunk. Shifting him higher, Azrael brushed the back of his hand against Roe's forehead.
Roe stirred at the touch and blinked up at him. For a few seconds, he only stared, studying Azrael's face with his round green eyes.
His little fingers came up to Azrael's cheek before he pinched it.
Adrian's shocked eyes met the driver's. Neither of them dared to save the poor little boy from the demon's wrath, but what happened next almost made their eyes bulge out.
The demon was caressing the boy's cheek in return with a whisper of a smile.
Little Roe turned his head toward the front seat, then back at the man, then at the window outside, and froze.
"Mama…"
His small body stiffened instantly at the sight of the unfamiliar men. He immediately pulled away from Azrael's lap and shot up to the other side of the seat.
"Where's Mama?" His voice trembled.
Looking at the unfamiliar people, his mind instantly went to what Uncle Vicky had said.
His lower lip quivered. 'Is mama really sending him to the orphanage?'
His chest expanded, drawing in breath, ready to scream, but Azrael reacted before the sound could break free.
He slid his phone in front of Little Roe.
"Call your mother," he said. "Isn't this your mother's number?"
Little Roe blinked his big green eyes but quickly held the phone in his small hands, hastily wiping his tears.
Recognizing his mother's picture on the profile, he quickly pressed call, pouting as he struggled to hold the phone.
Azrael couldn't help smiling at the familiar pout and held the phone up for him.
The line rang once.
Twice.
It connected, and because of the silence in the car, the voice echoed.
"He-Hello? Is there any—"
"Mama!" Roe's voice cracked, loud and desperate.
On the other end, her reply came so fast it overlapped his. "Roe? Roe!"
"Mama!"
"Where are you? Where did you go? I've been looking everywhere—"
"I—I couldn't find you, then I went in our car," he explained breathlessly, rubbing his eyes. "I hid to tell you about bad uncle, but then I slept. Then another uncle opened the car and I was somewhere else, and then it went vroom and—"
Azrael pieced together the events.
"Roe! Where are you now?"
"I…" He looked at Azrael and wriggled his brows, making Adrian almost choke on air.
"On the way."
"Mama, we are coming!"
"Are you hurt?" she asked hurriedly.
"No. I'm okay. I was sleeping." He paused and looked up at Azrael, then added, "I'm with three uncles in the car."
"O-okay, baby, give the uncle his phone back."
Little Roe pouted, but let him take the phone.
"What is it?" he asked, and it came out sharper than he intended.
"Thank you so much! I don't know how to thank you—"
"Stay where you are."
He cut the call, throwing his head back and rubbing his aching head.
…..
Valerie's head snapped toward the sound of engines as she ran toward them.
Even with ruined makeup and tear-streaked cheeks, she was striking. That realization irritated him more than it should have.
Azrael muttered a curse under his breath.
"Damn you, Vincent."
"Roe!"
"Mama!" Little Roe quickly pulled his hand from the man's hold before jumping into Valerie's embrace as he cried. "Mama… Huu… Huu…"
Valerie held him close in her arms, relief finally filling her whole body. "Where did you go…"
"Mama won't throw Roe away, right? Mama… please don't send Roe with other uncles…" he sobbed.
Holding the boy in her arms, she looked at him. "You are Mama's little angel. I will never let anyone take you. Who said that I'm sending you away?"
"U-Uncle Vicky." He cried out loud once again, collapsing in her arms.
Victor cleared his throat at the accusatory glares.
Valerie was filled with so much rage that her eyes watered, but she knew it wasn't the time to bash her brother's head against her knee.
She gently rubbed Little Roe's back. "Baby, don't cry. You are making your mama cry too. I love you the most in the world. Mama can't live a day without you."
Little Roe finally stopped crying as he looked at her with red, puffy eyes. "R-Really? Mama's telling the truth?"
Valerie's eyes softened. Little Roe was the light of her world.
She gave him a kiss on his pouting lips. "Promise! If Mama breaks her promise, she will grow a monkey's tail, won't she?"
A smile finally appeared on his face. "It's a promise?"
She nodded. "Promise!"
"Roe loves Mama a lot." He buried his face in the crook of her neck.
"I love you too." She lovingly patted his back.
Valerie suddenly remembered the man who had brought Little Roe back, which made her raise her head to look at him.
Her eyes fell on the handsome man wearing a scowl and deep, dark circles under his eyes, the same as Little Roe.
Her heart lurched in her throat.
"M-Mr. Hawthorne, I'll never forget what you have done for us."
Marco stepped forward, confusion written all over his face.
"Valerie… what is going on?" His eyes shifted from Little Roe in her arms to the tall man standing a few feet away. "Why is Mr. Hawthorne here with Roe?"
Victor moved beside him, jaw tight, gaze wary as it landed on Azrael. "Yeah. Since when do you know him?"
Valerie's fingers tightened protectively around Roe's small body. She could feel Azrael's glare on her. It made her skin go cold.
Azrael didn't spare the two men a single glance.
Roe was still clinging to her neck, his tiny fist tangled in her dress as if he feared she might disappear again. Valerie pressed a kiss into his hair, but her lips had gone pale.
"Mr. Hawthorne?" Marco tried again.
Azrael's silence was deliberate.
Victor bristled. "Valerie, what is this about?"
Azrael finally shifted his gaze—but only briefly. The look he gave Victor was unimpressed. Then he looked back at Valerie, as though the other two were nothing more than background noise.
Valerie's breathing turned shallow.
His phone rang.
The sharp vibration cut through the heavy air. Azrael slipped it from his pocket, glancing at the screen. The name flashing there made his lips twitch almost imperceptibly.
The Chairman. Of course, he already heard.
He let it ring once more before answering. "What is it?"
Even from where they stood, the furious voice on the other end could be heard blaring through the speaker.
Azrael's gaze never left Valerie's face before hanging up. "I'm coming back."
He ended the call without waiting for a reply, cursing under his breath.
"You have a lot to explain," His voice was low but edged with steel. "I'll see you back in the country?"
Valerie reluctantly nodded, looking at his SUV roll away.
Silence fell again.
"Valerie, what was he talking about?"