Chapter 71
smoke and tear gas flooded the cabin, burning my eyes and throat. heavily armed men poured into the living room, their laser sights cutting through the thick grey haze. elias fought like a demon, taking down two of the intruders before a barrage of gunfire forced him behind the kitchen island. i fired the shotgun down the hallway, the massive kickback bruising my shoulder, but it bought us enough time to lock the heavy bedroom door. through the splintered wood, i could hear mark's voice ordering his men to hold their fire. "open the door, mia," mark called out, his tone sickly sweet. "daddy just wants to take you home. we don't need the other boy." mia clung to my leg, weeping silently. i pressed the barrel of the shotgun against the doorframe, my finger trembling on the trigger.
