Page 84 of Unexpectedly In Love

“Fuck your games, Uncle.”

“Ha, Ha, come on now, don’t be a bad sport.”

I stare back and Khaos. He shakes his head. Kyros is not answering his phone.

Gesturing, I tell him to try again. My mouth becomes dry, my palms sweaty.

“Which would you rather: power or love?”

My lungs squeeze. I feel like air is leaving me and never returning.

“They are both mine. Touch my family and I will send you back to hell.”

“Wrong answer.” His engine revs and he hangs up. Everything feels like it’s slowing down. The vein in the middle of Khaos head pops up as he screams into the phone. The screaming sound of tires and bending metal belts out of the phone speakers.

Then a scream of pure terror shattered my thoughts, it took me a second to realize that blood curdling scream was mine.

* * *

ANISE

My head is pounding. I think someone is calling my name. Is that a baby crying? Kai? Kai baby mommy is here…I just need to rest. The cry gets louder. My eyes snap open the sound of bullets ricocheting into the air.

Kai’s screams bring my brain back online. Shit, we are upside down, on a cliff. This is some Hollywood drama type of shit. I look over to my left, and Kyros is not in the car. I need to move. First step, get out of this seatbelt. My fingernails press down the red button, the seat belt retracts and gravity instantly takes my body down.

My shoulder slams into the glove compartment, “Shit”

Kai screams out loud. Forgetting my shoulder pain, I crawl to the back seat.

“Hi, bubba. Mama’s here.”

His little chubby hands stretch out to me.

Placing my body in front of my baby. With one hand fixed against his chest, I pressed the red button on his tummy. The seat belt loosens, and I carefully pull him out of the seat.

We need to leave this car. Even though we are not right at the edge of the cliff, one wrong move can send Kai and I into the sea below us.

With Kai held close to my chest, I try to open the door, but the child lock is on.

Kai begins to fuss; poor kiddo must be traumatized. Slowly, I climb back into the front of the car and begin to open the driver’s side of the car.

My escape is delayed and guns fire all around us.

I press Kai close to my chest singing Coco Melons’ newest song. My eyes are shut tight praying that someone will save us.

As a round of bullets go off, there is the sound of a car crashing . Someone screams, pebbles roll down at the side of the car window. …. then I hear nothing.

The scent of gas surrounds me and Kai. I need to move now.

I push at the driver’s door and it’s stuck. I begin to panic. “Okay, Anise, we can do this.”

It’s okay. The window is open. It’s okay.

The car slides down the cliff a bit further, and Kai begins to scream, as the car jerks and stops.

“It’s okay, Bubba, it’s okay.” Was it okay? No, fear and adrenaline are running through my veins and I know I need to move.

I push Kai through the window, settling him on the rocky bed. The rocks will be hot since the sun is beating down on us. More rumbles come down the cliff.

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