The hot blanket of relief covers Lynell’s shoulders when she sees Daniel jump through the window and scoop up Anna.

She goes limp for a second, and when the guard’s grip loosens, she slips out of his arms and runs for Eric. “I’ll kill you!” she yells, earning his attention.

She spits, and satisfaction fills her smile when the saliva hits his face. His top lip curls back and she freezes, body stuck between fight or flight. She spins, preparing to run for the window, when a guard punches her square in the middle of her face. Blackness oozes into the edges of her vision and she teeters. Before she can fall, a guard grabs her again, this time holding his arm around her neck.

Eric steps closer and whispers, “I will kill everyone you’ve ever known.”

With a look over his shoulder, she sees Daniel is close to the open exit at the edge of the yard, thanks to her distraction. It was the only part of Zach’s original plan that he’d been able to implement before learning that Eric had Anna. He got rid of the guards that were stationed at the exit by calling them, pretending to be a doctor, and telling them to head to the hospital because their wives were in an accident. He also made sure his friend, Jeremy, was conveniently there when they got the call so he could take over guard duty when they left. Then Jeremy unlocked the gate and left, turning it into the perfect unguarded escape route.

Lynell smiles, unconsciousness starting to claim her. “Danny . . .” she mutters.

The last thing she hears is another gunshot. The last thing she sees is Daniel jerking, then falling, just a foot from the exit.

Then darkness envelopes her.

She wakes in the middle of a panic attack. She sits up, screaming and sweating.

She’s on the skeletal spring bed in the basement of the Elysian house. She gasps and scrambles off the bed, falling as she does. Her vision spots when her left hand hits the ground, and she can’t get enough breath to even scream. She crawls to the edge of the room, pushes her back against the wall, and squeezes her eyes shut.

Her heart is beating too fast. She can’t be here.

“You’re awake.”

Her head snaps up, eyes flying open. Eric is standing in the doorway.

“Where’s Danny?” Her fingers touch her cheek and she feels something wet, assuming it’s tears. But when she pulls her hand away, she sees her hand is still covered in blood.

Zach’s blood.

“Dead,” Eric says. His voice is flat, lacking anger or sick enjoyment or anything at all.

Lynell shakes her head. “No, no he’s not.”

“He is.”

She pulls her knees to her chest. “He can’t be.”

“Soon you will be, too. But first, I think you could use some time alone. Think about all you lost. All the death you’ve caused just by denying me a few simple words. You lost. I won. It’s over.” He turns and walks out of the room, leaving Lynell alone as the door shuts behind him.