Page 24 of Vengeful Lies

That sense of foreboding hovering over her all morning suddenly seemed to fill the room like a thick fog.

Whatever bad thing she’d been anticipating was about to happen.

How was she going to stop it?

Everything in her screamed at her to snatch up Essie into her arms and make a run for it. Logic told her that would never work. There were too many men there and they were all armed. Running would be giving herself a death sentence, maybe handing Essie one, too.

Since running wasn't an option, she stood there, waiting to see what her fate held.

Behind her, she could feel Essie’s terror joining with her own.

Never in her life had Gabriella felt so inadequate. She was doing her best, but she didn't have what it took to protect this sweet, vibrant little girl. There was nothing she would be able to do to stop it when these men decided to shift their attention from her to Essie.

Helplessness buffeted her like a raging storm, and she took a desperate step toward the three men. “Don’t touch her,” she pleaded. While she would have loved to say her voice had come out strong and authoritative, it didn't. The opposite. She sounded as terrified as she felt.

“Boss wants to send a stronger message,” one of the men said, taking a menacing step into the room.

No.

She couldn’t let that happen.

“Please, she’s just a baby. Whatever message you need to send, use me. Please.” It probably wasn't wise to beg these men because it only left her reeking of the desperation she felt. But shewasdesperate and would beg and plead if it got her what she wanted.

“You really think they care more about you than the kid?” another of the men asked, a chuckle accompanying his words like she was delusional.

Those words shouldn’t hurt her because, of course, Cade and his family would care more about their daughter and niece than someone who was merely the child’s nanny. But they did cut into her heart. Because they reminded her that no one in the world loved her the way Essie’s family loved her.

But this childdidhave a family who loved her, and she had to do whatever she could to make sure the little girl got home to them.

“No. They don’t,” she said, riding a sudden wave of confidence and bravado. “But I’m prepared to stand in her place.”

More chuckles met her words, and one of the men was suddenly right up in her personal space. A hand circled her already tender neck, and before she knew it, she was shoved up against the wall, her back pressed so tightly against it that her shoulder blades ached.

The first strike to her stomach had her crying out.

“Essie, close your eyes,” she managed to call out before another blow stole her ability to even think let alone speak.

The blows kept coming, raining down on her body like a bevy of hailstones, hitting her over and over again until she couldn’t even tell where they were striking because her entire body ached and throbbed.

It was only because the men were holding her up as they hit her that was keeping her on her feet. If they released her, she’d crumple to the floor, might not even have what it took to curl into a ball to protect her vital organs.

As it was, she couldn’t protect anything, and they weren't stopping.

Above the roaring of her pulse thudding in her ears, she could hear the men laughing and Essie sobbing.

There wasn't much more of this she could take.

Please, Cade, where are you?

Why haven’t you come?

Essie needs you.

I need you.

Please come.

Before it’s too late.

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