Wood splinters fly through the air as Marcus and his friends surge into my living room like a violent wave. I stumble backward, my heart racing so hard I can feel it in my throat.
"Get her!" Marcus shouts, pointing at me.
Chaos moves instantly, stepping between me and the mob. His fist connects with the first guy's jaw—a sickening crunch that sends the man reeling backward. But there are too many of them. Way too many.
"Run!" Chaos roars at me.
I turn toward the hallway, toward Liam's bedroom where my baby is hiding, terrified and alone. I need to get to him. Need to lock us both inside and pray Chaos's friends arrive before—
Arms wrap around my waist from behind, yanking me backward so violently the air rushes from my lungs.
"Got you, bitch," a voice hisses in my ear.
No. No, no, no.
I scream, thrashing against the grip, but the guy is too strong. He's bigger than me, heavier, and his arms are like iron bands crushing my ribs. He drags me away from the hallway, away from Liam, away from any chance of escape.
"Let go of me!" I claw at his arms, my nails digging into flesh. "Get your fucking hands off me!"
He just laughs, his breath hot and sour against my neck. "Keep fighting, sweetheart. I like it when they fight."
Terror floods through me, cold and paralyzing. This is it. This is the moment I've been running from for two years. They're goingto take me. They're going to take Liam. And there's nothing I can do to stop it.
"Chaos!" I scream his name desperately.
I catch a glimpse of him across the room. He's holding his own, barely. Three guys are on him, swinging their bats, and he's dodging and weaving and landing punches when he can. His lip is split, blood dripping down his chin.
But he's still standing. Still fighting.
Our eyes meet for a fraction of a second, and I see the rage there. The desperation. He's trying to get to me, but Marcus and another guy block his path, their bats raised.
"Should've minded your own business," Marcus snarls, swinging his bat at Chaos's head.
Chaos ducks, the bat whistling through empty air. He drives his fist into Marcus's gut, and Marcus doubles over with a wheeze.
"Ruby belongs to me," Marcus gasps. "That kid is mine. And you're not taking them from me."
"Fuck you," Chaos spits, blood staining his teeth. "She's not yours. She never was."
The guy holding me starts dragging me toward the broken door. I dig my heels into the floor, fighting with everything I have, but it's not enough. I'm not strong enough.
"Mama!" Liam's voice cuts through the chaos, high and terrified.
My heart stops. No. He's supposed to stay in his room. Stay hidden where it's safe. But he's standing in the hallway, his stuffed rabbit clutched to his chest, tears streaming down his little face as he watches strangers hurt his mama.
"Liam, go back!" I scream. "Go back to your room!"
"The kid!" one of Marcus's friends shouts. "Grab the kid!"
A guy breaks away from the group attacking Chaos and lunges toward Liam.
"NO!" The word rips from my throat, primal and desperate.
I bite down on the arm wrapped around me, my teeth sinking into flesh until I taste blood. The guy howls and his grip loosens just enough for me to wrench free. I throw myself toward the hallway, toward my baby, but I'm too slow.
The guy reaches Liam first.
He grabs my son roughly, and Liam screams, a sound so full of terror it shatters something inside me.
