“Get out the car! Get out the car now!”

Guns. Bella saw guns and heard the screeching of tires as Hendrix came to a stop.

“Daddy!”

She screamed for Ethic, and before she knew it, her feet were pounding pavement as they carried her down the driveway in Hendrix’s direction.

“Don’t shoot!” Bella screamed as she panted, fear coursing through her body as she ran as fast as she could. “Help! Daddy!”

“Bella!” That was Alani’s voice. Behind her. At the front door. “Ezra!”

Bella couldn’t even take the chance of looking back, terrified of the possibility of looking away only to hear gunshots ring out next. She saw the driver door pop open.

“Show us your hands!” She might as well have been running in slow motion.

“Bella!”

Thank God. Her daddy’s voice. Ethic was behind her. She heard him. He would fix this. He could fix this.

“Wait!” she shouted as she plowed into Hendrix, who stood wide-eyed, fear-filled, as he raised his hands. She wrapped herself around him, holding on tightly. He couldn’t even hug her back because they knew that if his hands disappeared, bullets would fly. They’d have to cut through two bodies because Bella was glued to him. She could feel Hendrix’s entire body shaking.

“Bella!”

She turned, blocking Hendrix’s body with her own. “Don’t shoot!”

Ethic was down the driveway and headed in their direction. Bella counted the men. Ten. There were ten of them. Semiautomatic rifles in their hands. Bodies covered in assault armor, helmets on their heads. Lights shining from the beams of their guns.

“Get down!”

Half of them were aiming at Ethic, the other half at her and Hendrix now.

His hands were up and visible. “That’s my daughter and her friend. They’re minors. This is my property, and they’re unarmed. I’ma need the guns lowered.”

Alani approached, hair wild, silk robe wrapped around her swollen belly as she stepped in front of Ethic.

“You’re going to have to kill four people out here today,” she said, voice trembling as she pulled out her cell phone. “I’m live on Facebook right now. I’m a New York Times bestselling writer with over a million followers, and they’re watching. The Michigan State Police is at my home in SWAT gear with guns pointed at my teenage daughter and her friend and my husband.”

“Put down the phone!” one of the men yelled.

“Put down your guns! It’s not illegal to have a cell phone. I’m recording every single second, so if one bullet flies, I have proof.” Alani looked at her screen. “A thousand witnesses and growing. Nobody is armed here but all of you! Y’all see this shit? This abuse of power? This invasion on our personal property!” Alani shouted. She was so terrified; she couldn’t steady her tone.