Chapter 14

Sylvester stormed out of the police station, his anger boiling over. He could still hear Derek’s taunts ringing in his ears. **“You’ve already lost, Sylvester. You just don’t know it yet.”** The words gnawed at him, fueling his rage.

He yanked open the door to his sleek black car, slamming it shut behind him. The engine roared to life, and he gripped the steering wheel, staring straight ahead as he floored the gas pedal. The car tore down the city streets, weaving through traffic. His mind raced even faster than the car. **Derek’s not going to get the last word. Not this time.**

Minutes later, he arrived at the daycare where the child was being looked after. He parked hastily, nearly hitting the curb as he skidded to a stop. Sylvester jumped out of the car and marched toward the entrance, his heart pounding.

Inside, the soft hum of children's laughter and the gentle cooing of caretakers filled the air. But Sylvester was deaf to it all. He spotted Maria, one of the daycare workers, and headed straight for her.

“Maria!” he barked, his voice sharper than he intended.

Maria, startled, turned around quickly. "Mr. Sylvester! Is everything alright?"

“Where’s he?” Sylvester demanded, his eyes flashing. “Where’s the boy?”

Maria’s brow furrowed in concern. “He’s with the other children, Mr. Sylvester. But—”

“I need to see him. Now.”

“Of course, but… is something wrong? You seem upset.”

Sylvester clenched his fists. “Just bring him to me.”

Maria hesitated for a moment, sensing something off, but she nodded and walked away quickly. Sylvester paced the floor, his mind clouded with a mixture of anger and anxiety. **Derek’s trying to take everything from me**, he thought. **But not the boy. He won’t get him.**

A few moments later, Maria returned, holding the hand of a little boy with curly brown hair and bright eyes. The child looked up at Sylvester with a wide smile.

“Daddy!” the boy cried, running toward Sylvester.

Sylvester’s heart clenched as he knelt down, scooping the boy into his arms. “Hey, buddy,” he said softly, forcing a smile as he hugged him tightly. “How’ve you been?”

The boy giggled. “Good! We played with blocks today!”

“That’s great,” Sylvester replied, his voice strained. He looked up at Maria. “Can you give us a moment?”

Maria glanced between them, clearly concerned, but she nodded. “Of course, Mr. Sylvester. I’ll be just outside if you need anything.”

Once Maria left, Sylvester stood up, still holding the boy close. He walked to the far side of the room, away from prying eyes, and set the boy down on a nearby chair.

“Listen to me, okay?” Sylvester said, crouching in front of the child. His voice was low, urgent. “I need you to stay here for a little longer, alright? You’re safe here.”

The boy tilted his head, confusion clouding his face. “Why, Daddy? When are we going home?”

Sylvester swallowed hard. “Soon, I promise. But right now, I need to make sure everything’s okay before I take you home.”

The boy frowned. “Is someone bad coming?”

Sylvester’s jaw tightened. **Derek**. Even though he wasn’t physically here, his presence loomed over everything. “No, no one bad’s coming,” he lied. “But I just need you to be good and listen to Maria, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy,” the boy said quietly, but his eyes were filled with uncertainty.

Sylvester ran a hand through his hair, trying to steady himself. He couldn’t let Derek take this from him. He had already lost control of his accounts, his stability. The boy was all he had left. And yet, Derek’s words had planted seeds of doubt in his mind. **What if I can’t protect him?**

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Maria stepped back in, her expression cautious. “Mr. Sylvester, is everything alright? You’re looking… worried.”

“I’m fine,” Sylvester said sharply. “But I need to make sure no one—no one—can come near him.”

Maria blinked in surprise. “Mr. Sylvester, I assure you, this is a secure daycare. We take every precaution.”

“That’s not enough,” Sylvester growled, standing up. He walked over to her, his voice lowering. “I need you to make sure **he**—Derek—doesn’t come near the boy. You understand?”

Maria looked alarmed. “Derek? I thought he—he’s in prison, right?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Sylvester hissed. “He has people. He could find a way.” He turned to look back at the boy, who was now fiddling with a toy, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around him.

Maria looked hesitant. “Mr. Sylvester, I… I don’t think there’s any real danger here. But if you’re worried, maybe you should take him home.”

Sylvester snapped back around, his eyes fierce. “Home? No, I can’t take him home right now. Not until I know Derek’s finished.”

Maria recoiled slightly at the intensity in his voice. “Mr. Sylvester, I… I’m not sure I understand what’s happening, but I need to follow protocol. If there’s a threat, we should notify the police.”

Sylvester let out a frustrated breath, running his hands through his hair. “I’ve already been to the police, Maria. They’re useless. Derek’s playing his games from inside his cell, and I can’t let him win.”

Maria’s face softened, and she placed a gentle hand on Sylvester’s arm. “Mr. Sylvester… it’s clear you care about your son. But I really think you need to take a moment and consider if you’re acting out of fear.”

Sylvester pulled away, shaking his head. “You don’t understand. I need to keep him safe.”

Maria frowned, her voice calm but firm. “We will. But you also need to take care of yourself, too. You’re not thinking straight.”

Sylvester turned his back on her, staring out the window, his chest tight with frustration. How could she possibly understand? Derek wasn’t just a threat—he was a ticking time bomb. And Sylvester had no idea when or where he would strike next.

After a long pause, Maria spoke again, her tone softer. “Mr. Sylvester… maybe you need to talk to someone. Get some help. This kind of stress, it’s not good for you—or for him.”

Sylvester closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. “Maybe. But not now.” He turned back toward his son, watching as the boy played innocently, unaware of the battle Sylvester was waging to keep him safe.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect him,” Sylvester whispered, more to himself than to Maria.