Page 45 of They Found Us

This gets a slight smirk in response. “I will be leaving soon. But I will be taking your son.”

I feel sick. I rush forward to stand between him and Mark. “You are not taking my son anywhere.”

The smirk on his face grows. “Yes. I am.”

“Get out now, while you still can. Leo will be home soon, and he will kill you for being in here.”

There’s slight amusement in his tone when he says, “Leo is on his way back. But they won’t be here in time.”

Standing firmly, I think of my options. I don’t know whether there is a gun or weapon up here. I don’t even have my phone with me. All the guards have gone apart from this one. Although, I think there will be someone at the gated entrance. Then I feel the baby monitor in my pocket. That could help. It has a two-way voice control. If I can switch it on, there may be a chance Alga is still here. She might hear it and then alert someone.

With his terrorising stare that hasn’t left me for a moment, I know he will notice me fumbling around in my dressing gown pocket. I need to turn around and distract him.

“You are not taking my son.” I say firmly as I turn and get on the bed next to Mark. Quickly, I put my hand in my pocket and turn on the button, praying I’ve pressed the right one.

When I turn back to look at him, he makes me jump with how close he his. My face is met with the barrel of a gun.

“Please don’t take my son. Please just leave. Get out of my son’s room. Please don’t hurt my baby.” I scream everything I tell him, hoping that the monitor picks it up.

Unfortunately, my loudness starts to wake Mark. I do not want him waking up to this nightmare. It will scar him for life. Wrapping my body around him so he can’t see the horrifying reality of what’s happening in his room, I start to sing his favourite nursery rhymes as gently and happily as a I can to settle him back to sleep. Thankfully, he does, but unfortunately the nightmare still continues. I can feel the presence of the man close behind me.

When I turn to look at him, he has a confused expression on his face.

“Please just leave us alone,” I beg.

And then his smirk returns. “I will when you hand over your son.”

“Never,” I cry, holding on to my first baby.

“I will take the other one, then.” He goes to leave the room.

“No!” I cry, leaving Mark and sprinting to the door to stand in his way. Standing firm, I try and act strong, but my emotion takes over and my words again come out in a cry. “You will not be taking either of my sons anywhere.”

Now he begins to laugh. “Do you really think you can stop me?”

He pushes past me, throwing me to the floor. I scramble up instantly, fighting my way to Zander in the other room.

Again he laughs at my desperate actions. “You choose. This one…” He points his gun at Zander.

My chest becomes tight, and a wail leaves my throat. “No!” I cry.

“Or that one?” He points his gun at Mark’s door.

My heart is racing, and I’m starting to feel dizzy. I need to protect my children. I need help. “Please!” I beg and slump to my knees, not knowing what else to do other than pray help arrives soon.

“I will take the older one.” He moves back towards Mark’s door.

I instantly dive towards him and grab on to his leg. He bursts into laugher again, watching me trying to stop his huge, heavy frame. He continues to walk, my attachment making no restriction to his movements.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Alga at the door. Hoping she can read the situation, I continue to hang on to his leg and let him pull me into Mark’s room. If she can get Zander out of the picture, I can try and protect Mark.

Once we are in Mark’s room, I scramble up and fight him, using every bit of strength I have. I’m trained in self-defence. I have been taught how to use someone’s strength against them. I perform a palm heel strike to his face. He is shocked by my strength—I can see it in his face. But it’s not enough. Unfortunately, with him being so much taller than me, I couldn’t get enough power behind the blow.

I then give him a front kick to his groin. It definitely hurts him, so I take the opportunity to go for his gun. I grab his arm at the wrist, spin the gun away from me, then kick him again in the groin. He buckles a little, but he doesn’t let go. An almighty roar then leaves his throat. Standing tall again, he grabs me by the throat with his other hand, making me instantly let go of his arm. My hands go to his in an attempt to release his tight grip. He lifts me almost off the ground by my neck. I’m panicking from the lack of oxygen. I can’t breathe.

He then slams me into the nearby wall and presses the barrel of the gun into my temple. “I will kill you first and then take both of them. Or you behave, and I let you and one of your sons live.” His face is pure evil when speaks.

I can’t reply. I’m seconds away from passing out. My eyes glaze over with tears of absolute fear for my children. Just before I fall unconscious, he releases my neck. I drop to the floor. My chest expands instantly, fighting for oxygen. My adrenaline kicks in, and I’m up on my feet while coughing and gasping for air. On unstable legs and with blurry vision, I force myself to get to Mark.

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