"Concerned isn't the right word," Isaiah replied. "Prepared is more accurate." After the officer left, Angela turned to her husband. "You know he's coming for us." Isaiah nodded.
For Jallen specifically, Grayson needs leverage. We should leave town, Angela suggested, fear evident in her voice for the first time since the ordeal began. Just until they find him. Running isn't an option, Isaiah said. This ends here one way or another.
They decided Jallen would stay home from school, a precaution that turned out to be preient. Just before noon, as Jaylen sat at the kitchen table working on homework, a text message arrived from Maya's phone. Need to talk. Emergency. Meet at Crawford Park Trail.
Don't tell parents. Jaylen stared at the message. Instinct telling him something was off. Maya wouldn't ask him to meet alone. Not after everything that had happened, and she definitely wouldn't tell him to keep it from his parents.
He showed the message to his father. Isaiah studied it briefly. Good instinct not to respond. It's not from Maya. A call to Maya's actual number confirmed their suspicion.
She was in class. Her phone in her backpack. Someone had created a fake number with her name. Grayson. Isaiah concluded already moving to secure the house.
He's making his move. Within minutes, Isaiah had activated security protocols that few civilian homes would possess. Reinforced locks engaged automatically. Windows secured with invisible shatterproof film. Security cameras activated around the perimeter.
Stay inside with mom. Isaiah instructed Jallen. I need to move freely. What are you going to do? Jaylen asked, watching his father check a small device that resembled a specialized phone.
End this. Isaiah's voice held no anger, no excitement, just calm certainty. But even Isaiah's careful planning couldn't anticipate every possibility. As Angela moved to the living room to close the curtains, the distinctive crack of breaking glass filled the house, followed immediately by the hiss of gas. "Smoke grenades!"
Isaiah shouted. "Out the back now!" The kings moved quickly toward the rear exit, but as Jallen reached the kitchen, a figure in a black tactical mask crashed through the side door, grabbing him in a chokeold. Don't move, Grayson shouted, his voice muffled behind his mask, but unmistakable. He pressed a gun against Jallen's temple.
Back up, all of you, Isaiah froze, assessing the situation with remarkable clarity despite the chaos. Angela stood beside him, her eyes locked on her son. "Officer Grayson," Isaiah said evenly. "You're making a mistake that can't be undone." Shut up, Grayson barked, tightening his grip on Jallen.