CHAPTER SIX
Julia
It has become so hot in the gym that the children grow thirsty, sweat soaking through their clothes. The girls are in sundresses but I had Beckett and Parker remove their button-up shirts, leaving them in their undershirts.
“I want my daddy,” Hope cries, her muffled sobs breaking my heart.
“Me, too,” Mia says, her small face tucked against my side where it’s been the whole time.
I reach over Beckett for Hope’s hand while the boys continue to console her. “I know you guys are scared,” I whisper. “But we’re going to get through this. I promise. I sent Uncle Jax a text. He says they’re coming for us. We just have to be strong until they can get in here.”
I sent the text almost ten minutes ago. I didn’t communicate for long, fearing I’d get caught, but I had to let them know we were okay.
“My dad’s gonna throw all their asses in jail,” Beckett says, his small voice tight with anger.
I don’t bother scolding him for his language because he has every right to feel angry right now.
“My dad will shoot them,” Parker says.
“Mine, too.” Annabelle sniffles, lifting her head from my shoulder. “And I don’t even feel bad about that.”
My eyes close, fear plaguing me at the thought of what all the guys will do when they get in here. For the sake of the children, I pray for as minimal violence as possible. They’ve seen enough to last them a lifetime.
“My daddy is probably so sad,” Mia cries, wiping her wet cheeks. “He always worries about somethin’ bad happenin’ to us.”
That’s every parent’s worst fear and all of Sunset Bay is living that nightmare right now. This one horrific moment will irrevocably change us all, especially the children.
My attention draws to the two men in the center of the gym, where they speak in hushed tones. The man in charge becomes more agitated by the second. His eyes shift to me, making my heart jump in my chest as he heads over to us.
Annabelle gasps, hiding her face in my shoulder. I hold her close, keeping my eyes on the man before me.
“You,” he says, pointing at me. “Come.”
“No!” Annabelle cries, hugging my neck tighter.
“Why?”
“You do not ask questions. Come, now!”
I press a kiss to Annabelle’s cheek. “It’ll be okay, baby. Stay here with the others. I’ll be right back.”
“No, Mama. Please don’t go.”
Her heartfelt plea has me choking back a sob. “Annabelle, I need you to be strong right now.”
The man becomes angry, sighing in frustration. “Belkov, remove the child from her.”
“No!” I snap. “If you put your hands on my daughter I will not help you.”
The man’s eyes narrow, his gun swinging over to Mia. “You have seconds to stand or the first child of the day dies.”
Mia cowers, breaking into hysterics.
Defeat settles over me as I pry Annabelle’s grip from around my neck and sit her next to Beckett. I move Mia next to them, making sure they’re all close. “Take care of each other. I’ll be back soon.”
The reassurance barely leaves my mouth when I’m yanked to my feet by my hair. “Time’s up.”
“Mama!” Annabelle wails, her desperate scream shattering my soul.
Both Parker and Beckett jump to their feet, fists clenched at their sides.
“Let her go!” Parker orders.
“Sit down, boys!” Guilt strikes me for yelling at them but my fear for their lives runs deeper.
“Listen to her. Now is not the time to be brave. I’d hate to have to shoot you both.”
A crying Hope grabs their arms and drags them back down next to her. It’s the last thing I see before I’m shoved forward, the cold barrel of a gun pressed against the back of my head.
“Mama!”
Looking over my shoulder, I see Beckett holding Annabelle back. Her pleading sobs trigger one of my own.
“Why are you doing this?” I cry, frustrated by their senseless act of cruelty.
“Haven’t I made myself clear? I want my grandson back, and I am not leaving this country without him.”
“You won’t ever make it out of here,” I whisper.
“Oh, my dear. That’s where you’re very wrong. Not only will I have my grandson back but I will also make his mother pay for all the pain she has caused my family.”
My eyes close, wishing I had checked into Connor’s background more. Maybe if I had this could have all been prevented.
“The police are outside. We all heard them,” I say, unable to keep the bite out of my tone.
“Yes, they are, and there is a probability they will even take me to jail for a short time.”
“Try a lifetime,” I mumble.
If my husband doesn’t kill you first.
Grabbing a fistful of my hair, he jerks my head back. “Watch your mouth or I will cut your tongue out and let you bleed to death in front of your daughter.”
I’m thrusted into my office, hard enough that I land on top of my desk face first. Pain explodes through my head, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.
Before I have time to recover, he grabs me by the back of my neck and shoves me around my desk. My eyes land on the cabinet Connor hides in, willing for him to stay where he is.
“Show me the list of absences,” he orders. “I also want my grandson’s file with his home address.”
“It’s not in here,” I murmur, blood trickling from my mouth.
His fingers wrap around my neck, squeezing my throat. “Bullshit. This is your office and you said you saw the list of absences. Now stop fucking with me or I will put a bullet in your head then do the same to your daughter.”
I’m about to tell him the information is on the powerless computer when Connor pushes out of the cabinet.
“Don’t hurt her!”
The man stills, his body tense with surprise. “Ivan?” he asks, a sense of awe in his voice.
“Please,” Connor pleads, tears streaking down his pale face. “Don’t hurt her. I’ll do whatever you want.”
The man releases me unconsciously, taking the smallest step forward. “Bhyk,” he breathes, his accent thick with emotion. “I can’t believe it’s really you.” He reaches for Connor. “Come. It’s time to go home.”
Desperation fuels me, putting me in motion. “No!” I push myself between them, taking Connor’s hand. “Run, Connor!”
We don’t even reach the door before a shot fires off. Pain explodes through my side, seizing all the air in my lungs. Turning, I stare into the face of a cold-blooded killer as he shoots again, spraying another bullet into my abdomen.
The impact throws me back, fire tearing through my entire body, but the pain is nothing to the terror that rips through my heart. A cold realization hitting me that I won’t make it out of this alive.