“Where’s my mother?” a female voice demanded. “I know she’s here.”
Horror bolted through me. I would recognize that voice anywhere.
“Hello, Ayla,” Lizzie greeted my daughter.
I struggled to open my eyes. The urge to protect my child racked my body.Run!I silently pleaded.Run. Ayla, run.
“I have no idea where Amira is.” Lizzie’s voice. “Did she tell you she was coming here?”
“No, but I tracked her phone. I know she’s here.”
No, Ayla. Save yourself. Don’t come in. Get as far away as you can!Desperation clawed at me. I tried to drag myself into a sitting position. I had to help Ayla. My daughter needed me.
“You got me,” Lizzie’s voice said as I drifted away. “Your momishere.”
No!I tried to yell. But it came out as a whimper.
Run, Ayla, run! Lizzie murdered your dad!But my warnings were silent screams blasting into a void of nothingness. I needed to get up, to help her. Then I remembered.
My crossbody was still slung across my shoulder. I forced my hands to move. It was a herculean effort; each arm felt like a fifty-pound weight. Luckily, Lizzie had left my bag unzipped. I fumbled around inside until my fingers wrapped around what I was looking for.
Darkness was gaining on me again, but I battled against the fatigue. If I went to sleep, who would save my little girl?
“I want to see my momright now,” Ayla said.
“Calm down. Like I said, your mom is inside,” Lizzie said. “Wait here while I see if she wants to talk to you.”
“Nice try.” Ayla’s skeptical voice. “Why wouldn’t she want to see me?”
“She knows that you were involved in your dad’s death. She’s pretty upset about it. Now wait while I check.”
Witch!How dare she say that to Ayla?
And was she getting something to hurt my daughter with? I struggled against the lethargy, which was like quicksand slowly pulling me under.
“Lizzie!” I croaked. I cleared my throat.Louder,I bullied myself.For Ayla.“Lizzie!”
Lizzie stood over me. “What?” she hissed. “Now your brat is here. See what you’ve done.”
“I have proof of what you did in my purse ...”
“Thanks for the tip, but I already took care of your phone.”
“Second phone,” I gasped. “Also recording.”
“You’re lying. I didn’t see a second phone.” Still, she leaned closer to reach for my bag.
My heart rate spiked. It was now or never. Gathering every bit of strength I could summon, I dragged the small canister out of my purse and blasted Lizzie in the face with pepper spray.
As I drifted off, her screams filled my ears.
“Amira! Amira! Wake up.” A man’s voice wafted over me.Ali?Relief rushed through me. Ali was here to help me save our baby girl!
“An ambulance is on the way,” the man said. “You’re going to be OK.”
I fought to open my eyes. “Ayla,” I croaked, trying to sit up. Bill Warren might hurt her. “Have to help her.”
“Easy.” The man’s firm but gentle hand on my shoulder kept me in place. “Ayla is fine. She’s safe. But you need to lie still until the paramedics get here.”
