Page 99 of Before Broken Vows

And again.

Bone cracks.

Teeth scatter across the floor like gravel.

Blood splashes up my wrist. Red mist coats my shirt and arms.

Then, I crouch beside him. Pull the knife out of his stomach and, in one motion, I slice his throat.

Blood spills like an offering. I watch as he gurgles, twitches, then goes still.

Only then do I turn to go to my son. Once I know the monster who took him is destroyed.

I toss the knife and run to the room Xander is in.

He's sitting in a chair, silent, wide-eyed. One of my men is cutting the zip ties from his wrists. I can see how raw they are. I rush to him, dropping to my knees.

"Xander," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Daddy!" he sobs, crying so hard he can't breathe.

It shatters me.

I pull him into my arms. His small body shakes with terror.

"Shh, shh, I've got you, buddy," I say. "You're safe now. I'm here."

I hold him so tight I feel his heartbeat against my chest.

He wraps his arms around my neck. He's so small. So warm. And the crazy thing is, through all of this, he still smells like his mother.

"I was scared," he says. "The bad man yelled a lot."

"I know," I say, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves. "But I'm here now. No one's going to hurt you."

He holds me tighter.

And I swear, I've never wanted to kill more men in my life.

Andrew comes in and stands beside us. "We're clear. I got the camera. We'll see what we can find out."

"Good," I say, picking up my son.

"What should we do with Milo?" Andrew asks.

"Burn him."

He nods and turns to give the orders.

I walk out of the hangar in silence, holding Xander in my arms.

My men step aside as I pass, then follow close behind, guns sweeping the area just in case.

And while I'm covered in blood, I hold my son like he's the most precious thing in the world.

Because he is.

We turn the corner where our SUVs are parked, and I hear her scream his name.