Chapter 2

The footsteps stopped in the study, separated from us by a single wall.

A second later, the battering intensified. The safe near the door rattled violently against the frame.

We watched in horror as the door splintered, a gap tearing open in the wood.

Light spilled into the panic room, and the attackers immediately spotted us.

The man in the lead flashed a sickening grin.

"Knew there were rats hiding in here."

I stepped in front of Natalie and Leo, backing up inch by inch.

The men squeezed through the gap. The leader kicked the metal cabinet aside and shoved the panic room door wide open.

"Thought a fancy door would save you? We're getting paid to settle a score. If you want to blame someone, blame Adrian for bankrupting my company."

I couldn't stop shaking. My eyes locked onto the hunting knife in his hand—the blade glinting in the dim light.

Their dark, predatory gazes shifted to Natalie.

"Adrian's wife. Knocked up, too." He licked his lips. "Wonder what that feels like."

Natalie glared at them, shoving Leo behind her as she backed away.

"Don't come any closer!"

I choked down my terror and whispered to her.

"Switch behind the vase. When the exit opens, run. Get to the Caldwell Estate. Find Ethan. He'll come for me."

The man with the knife stepped closer. Our backs hit the wall.

We had died horribly enough in the last life.

This time, no matter what it took, I wasn't letting Natalie and Leo face that same ending.

"Claire, I can't just leave you here!"

"You're pregnant, and Leo is three. Listen to me. You go first. I'll hold them off."

I pinched her arm hard, forcing her to focus.

"As long as you get Ethan, we still have a chance!"

The man lunged.

Before I could react, Natalie slammed her hand onto the hidden switch and shoved Leo hard into my arms.

She threw herself forward, wrapping her arms in a death grip around the lead attacker's legs.

"Claire, run! Take Leo and run!"

Her voice shook violently, thick with agony and desperation, but she didn't let go.

"Natalie!"

In the agonizing seconds before the hidden door sealed shut, I watched the man grab Natalie by the throat and hurl her brutally against the floor.

In that split second, my sanity shattered.

"Claire, run! Get help!"

Chapter 2

The footsteps stopped in the study, separated from us by a single wall.

A second later, the battering intensified. The safe near the door rattled violently against the frame.

We watched in horror as the door splintered, a gap tearing open in the wood.

Light spilled into the panic room, and the attackers immediately spotted us.

The man in the lead flashed a sickening grin.

"Knew there were rats hiding in here."

I stepped in front of Natalie and Leo, backing up inch by inch.

The men squeezed through the gap. The leader kicked the metal cabinet aside and shoved the panic room door wide open.

"Thought a fancy door would save you? We're getting paid to settle a score. If you want to blame someone, blame Adrian for bankrupting my company."

I couldn't stop shaking. My eyes locked onto the hunting knife in his hand—the blade glinting in the dim light.

Their dark, predatory gazes shifted to Natalie.

"Adrian's wife. Knocked up, too." He licked his lips. "Wonder what that feels like."

Natalie glared at them, shoving Leo behind her as she backed away.

"Don't come any closer!"

I choked down my terror and whispered to her.

"Switch behind the vase. When the exit opens, run. Get to the Caldwell Estate. Find Ethan. He'll come for me."

The man with the knife stepped closer. Our backs hit the wall.

We had died horribly enough in the last life.

This time, no matter what it took, I wasn't letting Natalie and Leo face that same ending.

"Claire, I can't just leave you here!"

"You're pregnant, and Leo is three. Listen to me. You go first. I'll hold them off."

I pinched her arm hard, forcing her to focus.

"As long as you get Ethan, we still have a chance!"

The man lunged.

Before I could react, Natalie slammed her hand onto the hidden switch and shoved Leo hard into my arms.

She threw herself forward, wrapping her arms in a death grip around the lead attacker's legs.

"Claire, run! Take Leo and run!"

Her voice shook violently, thick with agony and desperation, but she didn't let go.

"Natalie!"

In the agonizing seconds before the hidden door sealed shut, I watched the man grab Natalie by the throat and hurl her brutally against the floor.

In that split second, my sanity shattered.

"Claire, run! Get help!"