Chapter 7
Aurelia spent a week recovering in the hospital.[]
The day she got discharged, Cassian sent his personal driver to bring her home.]
But the moment she walked through the front door, there was Verena sprawled across their leather couch.[]
Aurelia didn’t even react. She just headed straight upstairs without saying a word.[]
She couldn’t afford to lose her shit right now.
To
The detective had been very clear–if she wanted her real kid back alive, she had to play it cool and not let anyone know what was coming.
She’d been sitting on her bed for maybe half an hour when Caleb wandered in carrying a glass of water.[]
Her heart still did this stupid flutter when she saw him. Four years of bedtime stories and scraped knees didn’t just disappear overnight.
He walked over with this innocent smile, holding out the glass like the perfect little angel everyone thought he was.
r.“]
“Mommy, you look tired. I brought you some water.”
Aurelia smiled and chugged the whole thing without thinking twice.[]
About thirty seconds later, she knew she’d fucked up big time.[]
Her head started pounding, and her vision went all wonky. “Caleb, sweetie, what was in that water?“]
The kid’s smile turned absolutely evil. “Just some medicine Aunt Verena gave me. She said it would make you sleepy so you’d stop kicking her out.“]
nedic re
on some thans he has
“I don’t want you to kick her out! She’s way
Aurelia stared at this little boy she’d loved with everything
He’d just drugged her. For his real mom.]
The room started spinning, and then she hit the floor hard.
she had, completely blown away.[]
As everything went black, she could hear Caleb shouting, “Aunt Verena! It worked! She’s out!”
When she came to, she was lying on the cold concrete of their
It was pitch black, but she could hear this horrible hissing sound coming from everywhere at once.]
She felt around for a light switch, and when the bulb finally flickered on, she nearly pissed herself.]
There had to be at least thirty snakes slithering around the floor, their tongues darting out like they could smell her terror.
She backed up against the wall, hyperventilating, when Caleb’s voice drifted down through the floorboards.[]
Chapter 7
“Mommy, do you like your new pets? Aunt Verena picked them out special for you!“[]
Aurelia ignored him and threw herself at the door, but it was locked solid.]
She was so panicked she smashed her forehead against the doorframe, splitting it open.[]
The snakes went crazy when they smelled blood and came straight for her.[]
She was trapped in the corner when the first one got her, sinking its fangs deep into her ankle.[]
She could feel the venom spreading through her system, turning her skin purple and making her lips go numb.
Upstairs, she could hear Miles freaking out. “Miss Dorne, please! Mrs. Thornwell needs medical attention! This has gone way too far!“]
Verena’s voice was sickeningly sweet. “I don’t know, Caleb. What do you think? Should we let Mommy out of time–out?“]
“Hell no!” Caleb yelled back. “She’s always trying to get rid of you! I
)
That’s when Aurelia’s heart finally broke completely.
Caleb had been her whole world, the only good thing left in this nightmare
Now she had absolutely nothing…]
She felt she was going to die in this basement.
Just when she thought it was over,suddenly, the door exploded inward.[]
Through her fading vision, she saw Silas charging down the stairs.[]
The next time she opened her eyes, she was in a different hospital room.]
you to stay forever!“||]
lage.
Silas was there, but he wasn’t alone. Standing next to him was a little boy with messy dark hair and the biggest brown eyes she’d ever seen.
Aurelia looked at the child, then at her brother, and everything clicked.[]
Her real son. Her actual baby was finally here.[]
She started sobbing and pulled him into her arms, holding him so tight she was probably hurting him.]
Two days later, Silas drove them both to JFK.]
At the gate, he hugged her goodbye with tears in his eyes.
“Get out of here, Aurelia. Take your boy and start over somewhere safe. I’ll deal with the things.”
Aurelia nodded, took her son’s tiny hand in hers, and walked onto that Swiss Air flight without looking back once.[]
(5)
