Page 260 of Bound By Crimson

Her legs trembled as she stepped onto the first rung.

Noah stirred against her.

She climbed, one shaky step at a time—arms aching, bag slung over her shoulder, breath held tight in her chest.

She was halfway up when—

All the lights came on.

Floodlights burst across the estate grounds, cutting through the dark. The garden lit up like a stage.

Voices rang out in the distance.

“Charles, you go that way! I’ll take the gardens!”

Bernarda.

She was yelling loud—but not panicked. Almost… deliberate.

Lyric’s heart slammed. She knew what Bernarda was doing.

Warning her.

Charles was coming.

She moved faster, hands scrambling upward.

Then—a snag.

Her bag caught on something near the ladder’s rung. She pulled—it wouldn’t budge.

Noah stirred again, a soft whimper escaping him.

No, no, no.

She climbed down halfway, holding Noah tight, fumbling for the strap.

It tore free.

She didn’t stop to breathe.

Back up. Fast. Every step a scream in her legs.

Grayson leaned over the edge, eyes wide. “Give me the baby!”

She froze.

Charles was close now—she could hear his boots hitting the stone.

Grayson was real—but still a stranger. How could she just hand over her baby to him?Should she trust him?

Her arms locked around Noah protectively.

She didn’t have time to think. If she waited even a second longer, Charles would reach her.

Grayson reached farther down. “I swear—I won’t let anything happen to him. But youhaveto move now.”

Lyric looked up.