Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 61~

~Raelyn~

I was right.

This wasn't over.

The footsteps grew louder—*slow, deliberate, cruel.* Like he wanted to me to hear them. Like every step was a warning. A countdown.

My chest burned, lungs working overtime. My fingers flexed on the gun. *Stay quiet, Aspen. Please stay quiet.*

The doorknob turned.

*Click.*

The door swung open.

I didn't hesitate. I raised the gun, shoulders square, every inch of me coiled. My jaw was locked so tight it felt like it would crack.

"*Found ya.*"

His voice was unfamiliar—deep and rasped, like gravel under boots. But the smirk on his face? *Rotten.* He shut the door behind him, slow and calm, like he owned the goddamn room.

He was massive. *Bald.* Tattoos inked from neck to wrist. His presence filled the space like a stormcloud.

I didn't flinch. "*Who the fuck are you?*"

He grinned, teeth yellow and cracked. "Who I am doesn't matter. What I'm here for does."

"And what's that?"

He took one step forward. "*You. Your brats. Your little pack of freaks. I don't care who bleeds first. One of you will.*"

I pulled the trigger.

*Bang!*

Missed.

*Shit.*

He lunged.

The gun flew from my hands as his weight crashed into me, slamming me hard against the ground. Pain exploded down my spine. I choked, gasping as the air was ripped from my chest.

He dragged me across the floor, my knee shredding open on the wood.

Then he *stomped* on my ankle.

A white-hot scream tore from my throat.

Aspen started wailing in the closet.

And he turned toward her. Toward *them.*

"*Perfect,*" he muttered, smiling like a fucking monster.

His hand reached for the closet—

Something in me snapped.

Not a bone. Not something physical.

*Me.*

"Oh, no you fucking don't," I snarled.

I launched myself at him, pain be damned. I slammed into his back, taking us both to the floor.

"Get *off* me, you little *whore!*"

I clawed at his face. My nails raked across his cheek, skin peeling, blood trailing.

He roared, throwing me off and slamming me into the wall. My head cracked against the drywall—black stars danced in my vision.

But my fingers found the gun.

I turned and fired.

*Bang.*

He collapsed.

But I didn't stop.

*Bang.* Again. *Bang.* Again.

He twitched once. Then nothing.

The room fell silent except for the sound of Aspen's sobs and Blake's soft, terrified sniffles.