On the way to the airport.
Moss stared out the taxi window, his face unreadable, the cityâs blur reflected in his cold eyes.
In his arms, Melon was sleeping.
âDad, Momâ¦â Melon stirred, his small legs kicking, looking like he was about to wake up.
Moss glanced down at Melon.
With careful movements, he opened a bag beside him on the seat and pulled out a small pill bottle.
He then took out a pill and put it in Melonâs mouth, letting it dissolve almost instantly.
The pill quickly made Melon deep in sleep.
The driver, stealing glances at the rearview mirror, had been watching Moss and the boy since the journey began.
His eyes met Moss.
âIs that your grandson?â the driver asked, curiosity creeping into his voice.
âI havenât seen him wake up at all.
Sleeps like a rock.â
Moss gave a slow nod, a smile flickering briefly on his lips.
âYes, heâs not feeling well,â he said.
The stereo in the car was broken, and the silence inside the car was evident.
There was still a long way to the airport.
Perhaps the driver was bored; he started talking to Moss.
âIâve got a kid back home, too,â the driver said, his voice softer now.
âAbout the same age as your grandson.
Havenât seen him in two years.â
âReally?â Mossâ tone was flat.
âWhy havenât you gone back?â
âI have to work to support my family,â the driver said with a sigh.
His eyes stayed fixed on the road.
âIâve got six elders, two wives, and four kids depending on me, so I came to the city to work.
Canât say Iâve got much education, so this job is all I could find.
I send all the money I earned back home, except for a small amount to pay for my meals and rent.â
He kept talking, but Moss only fixated on one thing.
âTwo wives? Isnât that illegal?â
The driver let out a chuckle.
âWell, itâs a long story.
My first wife-she ran off with some smooth-talking guy.
Wanted a divorce and everything.
They eloped together, but she found out he wasnât much more than good looks.
Nothing like me.
So, she came back to me, wanting to fix things.
By then, I was about to marry a widow the matchmaker introduced me to.
However, when my ex showed up, begging, I couldnât say no to her.
So, I didnât marry the widow, but the three of us made an arrangement to live together.
In my eyes, theyâre both my wives.â
The wind tousled what little hair the driver had left as his voice trailed off.
Moss said nothing, adjusting Melon in his arms.
The driver then asked about Mossâ love life.
Moss replied coldly, âMy wife and I loved each other deeply, but she passed away.â
He didnât wait for the driverâs reaction, turning his gaze back to the window.
The scenery outside was a blur, but something else caught his attention.
Black cars, sleek and fast, zipped past them in a neat formation.
Moss furrowed his brow.
âLook at those plates,â the driver remarked, intrigued.
âAll Lined up.
Must belong to some big shot.â
The comment seemed casual, but Mossâ mind lingered on it.
His eyes narrowed as he looked at the airport not far away.
An unsettling feeling lingered in his heart.
Moss suspected that Holden had likely gotten to the middle-aged man, seeing through his lies.
Holden must have sent someone to the airport to capture him.
âChange the route.
Iâm not going to the airport now,â Moss said, his tone cold.