Page 91 of Mountain Daddy

Something in my expression must convince her, because she nods. “Call if you need anything. Anything at all.”

I hug Chleo fiercely before he climbs into Rosa's car.

“Be good,” I whisper. “I love you more than anything in this world.”

“Love you too, Mama!”

I stand on the sidewalk, waving until Rosa's car disappears around the corner. The sun is setting now. I turn to go back inside, to finish cleaning, to figure out my next move.

That's when I feel it—a prickle at the back of my neck. The weight of eyes on me. A shadow crossing over me.

21

LILLY

Ispin around.

Fuck.

I didn’t hear the footsteps.

My heart slams against my ribs. I’m surrounded.

Three guys.

Broad shoulders.

Dark clothes.

Mean eyes.

“Get her,” one of them growls. The accent hits me like ice water. Russian.

I step back in panic, eyes locking to the bakery door. If I could lock myself in, buy myself time, call the cops…

Ten feet away.

It’s too far.

I bolt toward it anyway.

The first one lunges for me, his fingers brushing my arm. I jerk back, twist myself free and scream as loud as I can.

“SOMEO-”

A meaty hand clamps over my mouth from behind. My stomach lurches as I'm lifted off my feet.

“Don't fight,” the man hisses in my ear. “Makes it worse.”

Like hell.

I bite down on his palm, hard enough to taste blood. He howls, releases me for half a second. That's all I need. I drive my elbow back, smack into his face, before stumbling away.

But there's three of them, and only one of me.

The second man grabs my hair, yanks me backward. Pain explodes across my scalp, tears spring to my eyes.

My phone, I remember. It’s still in my hand.

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