I walked into the dining area, the smell of maple syrup and butter mocking the bitterness in my chest. Leo was sitting in a chair, swinging his legs with a vigor I hadn't seen in weeks. A plate of fluffy pancakes sat before him, but he was too busy talking to Nanny B to eat.
A guard stood at the edge of the room—silent, armed, and a constant reminder that this wasn't a home; it was a barracks.
"Mommy! Look!" Leo beamed, pointing toward the massive window. "Dad says the soldiers are here to play hide and seek with the bad guys. And look at my new dinosaur! He has armor just like the big cars!"
I forced a smile, but my heart felt like it was being squeezed by a cold hand. "It's very nice, Leo. Are you enjoying your breakfast?"
"I love it here!" he chirped, his eyes wide with innocent wonder. "The house is so big, and Dad says I can learn to swim in the big pool soon. Can we stay forever, Mommy?"
