“I’ll protect you too, Mommy,” he says, his voice so small but so damn determined.
I force a smile. “I know you will, baby.”
But inside, I’m screaming.
How do I protect him from men like Leonid? From whatever the fuck this place is?
Before I can say anything else, a sound from outside the door makes my blood run cold.
Footsteps.
Heavy.
That’s not Kayla.
I shoot up from the bed, yanking Elijah up with me. My heart slams against my ribs as I pull him toward the far corner of the room, putting my body between him and whatever’s coming through that door.Fuck.
“Elijah, stay behind me,” I whisper, my eyes locked on the door, my body tense, ready for a fight. My pulse pounds in my ears, drowning out everything else.
The footsteps stop.
I grip Elijah’s arm tighter, his small body pressed against my leg.
Be ready. Be ready for anything.
The door swings open.
A figure fills the doorway—huge, broad-shouldered, casting a shadow that seems to swallow the whole damn room. It’s not Leonid. It’s the biggest one, the giant.
Fuck.I’m not someone who scares easily, not after all I’ve been through. But this man—monster—he’s different.There’s something about him—the way he carries himself, the sheer size of him—that twists something cold in my gut. He doesn’t even have to say a word, and I can feel it—the danger rolling off him in waves.
Stay calm. Just fucking stay calm.
But my body isn’t listening. My legs tremble, heart racing. He’s too damn close, fear gripping my spine, paralyzing me.Shit.I want to fight, but right now, I’m trapped—by him and by my own fear.
I open my mouth, ready to shout, to demand that he back off. “Get… away from us,” I hear myself say.
It’s supposed to sound strong, threatening. Instead, it comes out small.
Pathetic.
3
Clara
The giant doesn’t even blink.
“Get away from my mommy, bad guy!” Elijah yells.
What? Wait.
Before I can process what’s happening, Elijah bolts from behind me, zooming past like a damn bullet.
Shit.
“Elijah!” I shout, reaching out to grab him, but it’s too late. He’s already flying toward the giant like some fearless warrior, his tiny fists raised as if he’s going to take down a fucking mountain.
My heart stops.No, no, no.
