Heath parked one street over, and we jogged the rest of the way up to the Noirs’ front gate. His gun was drawn as he scanned the perimeter. The sun was just starting to set, and the pink Georgia sky made for a picturesque view. From the outside, it looked just like any other Atlanta mansion. No one could have imagined the evil residing inside.
However, as a man’s vicious yell came from inside the house, I jolted into a reality I’d never wanted to be a part of.
“Fuck!” Heath growled. “I’m going around the side to see if I can get in. You stay here,” he ordered before bolting away.
The man yelled again, and this time, I heard the shrill of a child screaming too. An icy rage sent a shiver down my back, and fire shot through my veins. Shaking the tall, metal structure, I furiously tried to find a way inside. The steel wouldn’t budge no matter how hard I fought. Refusing to stop until I got to Tessa, I attempted to squeeze my bulky body between the bars, but it was useless.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!” I snarled, using my weight to try to pry the bars apart.
I’d managed to wedge my shoulder between two of them when I saw the front door swing open. Clare came flying out, Tessa in her arms, Walter Noir directly behind her.
“Clare!” I yelled as Walter snatched the back of her hair, pulling her to an abrupt halt and sending Tessa to the ground.
“No!” Clare screamed as she fell.
I shoved an arm through the bars, frantically trying to reach her, but she was yards away. “Tessa!” I shouted next, hoping I could get her to come to me. Her small body would have fit through the bars.
Terror churned in my gut as Walter slammed Clare into the ground then charged after the child.
I rammed my shoulder into the gate again, yelling, “Don’t you fucking touch her!”
I swear to God I was going to rip that son of a bitch in half.
If only I could get my hands on him.
I twisted, diving for Walt’s ankle as he went after Tessa. I caught him with one hand and sent him stumbling to the ground just as I heard a man yelling. I glanced up, fear consuming me at the possibility of it being one of Walt’s men.
Only for my heart to burst when I saw Roman Leblanc standing like a white knight coming to rescue Tessa from the dragon’s lair.
He was there.
Someone had come.
The sob tore through me as I fought to keep Walt down.
“Take her!” I shrieked. “Take her!”
“I can’t reach her!” he shouted, thrusting his arm through the metal bars of my prison.
Walt reached back, ripping my hand off his leg.
“Tessa, go!” I screamed when he got back to his feet.
She was hysterical, tears streaming down her face, blood dripping from her scraped knees and elbows.
“Mama!” she cried, running from Walt but too afraid to go to Roman.
She was so close to being free. I couldn’t allow him to get his hands on her again. Drawing up the remainder of my strength, I pushed to my feet and sprinted after him. Slamming into his back, I once again took him to the ground.
“Goddamn it!” he barked, rolling over, his fists flying at my face.
“Tessa, go!” I ordered, doing my best to defend myself from Walt’s blows.
Even through the struggle, I heard Roman trying to coax her over to him.
“Tessa, don’t you fucking move!” Walt barked, his hands momentarily slowing their assault.
I couldn’t see her from my position, but I prayed that Walt’s reaction meant she was heading to Roman.
I couldn’t do anything but hurry her along and try to ease her into the arms of a stranger. “Tessa, it’s okay. Please, baby, go to him.”
Then, suddenly, the chaos stopped.
Everyone stopped yelling.
Tessa’s cries fell quiet.
And, in the silence, I actually heard the Earth begin spinning again.
She had to have gone to Roman.
He had to have finally gotten her.
She was safe.
She was safe.
Oh my God. She’s finally safe.
Tears poured from my eyes.
My job was done, and within a second, my entire battered, beaten, and exhausted body finally gave out. Gravity finally defeated me as I sagged on the concrete driveway.
My arms and legs were limp as one more of Walt’s fists landed on my face, but I didn’t feel it amongst the euphoria and relief.
“She’s safe,” I found myself repeating as I felt Walt rise up off me.
Keeping my eyes closed, I waited for the final blow that would end it all.
I smiled, eager for the darkness.
But it never came.
The familiar sound of my name made my eyes flutter open.
Walt was standing there. A gun to his temple.
A long, muscular arm at the other end of the trigger. My daughter safely tucked into his side. Warm, blue eyes I immediately recognized stared back at me.
“Heath, give me the girl!” Roman called.
Heath?