The desire to agree, to give in, roils inside her like a hurricane. Only the slow movement of the new guard and Zach’s squeeze on her arm keep her from agreeing.

“You give me the letter, and I let the bastard child go,” Eric says, walking to Lynell. She looks up at him, drained and defeated. “You keep it from me, and I’ll show Zoe the basement. Young Anna too.”

“No!” Lynell yells.

Eric gives a dramatic sigh and shrugs, lifting his hands in the air. “The power to prevent it is in your hands.”

Anna is still crying, though quieter now, and Zoe looks up. Her face is pale and her eyes seem to sink into her face.

Zach pulls Lynell back and steps forward so he’s closer to his father. “And me? Why am I here?”

Eric nearly growls. “You’re my son,” he says, spit flying from his lips. “I will not have you betray me for a stranger.”

“That stranger is my cousin. She’s family.”

“I’m your family!” Eric yells. Lynell barely notices the hurt and regret in his voice. “Not her!”

Zach looks quickly back at Lynell and gives her a nod. She catches her breath and straightens her back. “Okay!” she yells. Eric instantly looks at her. “I’ll do it. I’ll tell you what the letter said. Please, just let them go.”

As soon as she’s agreed, a guard steps forward and grabs Lynell, yanking her toward the free chair next to a coffee table. It’s across the room from Zach and next to Zoe and Anna. Lynell can feel all their gazes on the back of her head as she sits and reaches out with a shaking hand to pick up the pen in front of her.

Lynell steals one last glance. Not at Anna, but at the extra guard in the room. His soft eyes return her gaze and before anyone can question it, she looks back to the paper and starts writing.

She’s not even finished the “ell” at the end of “Little Lynell,” when it happens.

Two gunshots ring.

Zoe screams. Anna cries.

Eric roars.

Lynell drops to the floor and rolls to push up to her elbows, looking around. Zach has taken down one of the guards and is holding up the gun he stole, training it on Eric’s face. Daniel was able to surprise the man next to him with an attack and a shot to the chest, leaving two guards remaining. Daniel fights with one and the other has his own gun raised at Zach.

For a moment, there is no sound but Anna’s sobs.

Then Eric laughs. “You think you can escape again? This place is surrounded by guards.”

“I know you, Dad. I helped create your security measures. This is my home, too,” Zach says. Lynell glances between her cousin and his father before checking on Daniel. He has the guard pinned to the floor and his gun raised, trained on Eric.

“This is not your home! You are no son of mine!” Eric bellows at his son.