Page 48 of Single Mom’s Navy Seals (Claimed by the Alphas #2)

AVA

M y head throbs as consciousness returns, reluctantly, pulling me from the comfort of oblivion into an immediate sense of panic.

My body feels heavy and disoriented. As my eyes flicker open, I realize I’m seated in an uncomfortable metal chair, the cold edges biting into my wrists.

Ropes dig into my skin, holding me in place.

My heartbeat quickens, breath coming in shallow, anxious gulps.

I look around the room, panic blooming hotly in my chest.

“Mommy?”

Relief floods me at the sound of Eli’s small, scared voice. He’s next to me—thankfully unrestrained—eyes wide, cheeks streaked with drying tears. I exhale shakily, the tension in my shoulders easing just slightly at the sight of him unharmed.

“I’m right here, baby,” I reassure him, forcing calm into my voice despite the turmoil raging inside me. “Are you okay, Eli? Are you hurt?”

Eli shakes his head, eyes glistening.

“No, Mommy, but I’m scared.” His voice breaks, wobbling on the edge of fresh tears. “I want my daddies. Why aren’t they here yet?”

My chest aches painfully at his question, helplessness twisting like a knife in my gut. I keep my voice gentle, even though I feel anything but calm.

“It’s gonna be okay, Eli. Your daddies will come for us soon. I promise.”

Before Eli can reply, the door swings open, creaking loudly. My heart drops into my stomach as Randy steps into view. Time has not been kind to him. His features look harsher, meaner, the cruelty I remember now etched permanently into his face.

He scowls, voice dripping with disgust as he gestures at Eli. “What the hell is he going on about, crying nonstop for his ‘daddies’? Is that what you’ve turned my son into?”

I feel sick at the possessiveness in his voice, anger igniting inside me. Before I can respond, Eli looks between us, confusion and fear written plainly across his small face.

“Mommy, is this man really my father? He said he’s my daddy, but you told me my real daddy was dead.”

I freeze, guilt and sorrow swirling inside me at Eli’s confused, frightened expression. Randy turns his glare directly onto me, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

“So not only do you steal from me, run from me, and hide my son from me, but you’ve been telling him I’m dead,” he spits bitterly, stepping closer with clenched fists.

Gathering every ounce of courage I possess, I lift my chin defiantly, my voice trembling with barely controlled rage. “Eli is not your son. He could never belong to someone as evil as you.”

Randy raises his hand, poised as if to strike, but Eli cries out in terror. “Stop it! Leave Mommy alone!”

Surprisingly, Randy pauses, his hand lowering as a twisted smile creeps across his face. He shrugs casually, eyes cold and calculating.

“You know what, Ava? It doesn’t matter. Now that I’ve struck my deal with that fool Ben, I’ll be walking free. My idiot boss will take the fall for everything, and I’ll have my heir to raise exactly how I choose.”

My pulse races, blood running ice-cold in my veins at the horrifying implication. Determination floods me, pushing aside the fear.

“I would never let that happen. Never.”

Randy laughs cruelly, shaking his head. “Who said you’d even be around to stop me?”

Without waiting for a response, Randy turns on his heel, slamming the door closed behind him with a loud, echoing bang. Silence fills the small, dingy office, broken only by Eli’s quiet sobs. My heart fractures, aching as I watch him struggle with fear and confusion no child should ever face.

I take a deep, steadying breath, mind racing for a plan. “Eli, sweetheart, listen to Mommy, okay? Can you do me a favor? See if you can help Mommy get out of these ropes.”

Eli sniffles, nodding as he moves closer.

He reaches for the ropes, small fingers fumbling as he tugs and pulls.

To my relief, the knots were tied hastily, loose enough for Eli’s persistent efforts to pay off quickly.

Within moments, I feel the ropes fall free, blood rushing back into my aching wrists.

“Thank you, Eli,” I whisper fiercely, gathering him into a tight, comforting embrace. “You were so brave and strong. Mommy’s proud of you.”

Standing, I search the room frantically for anything to defend us with, eyes landing finally on a small metal paperweight sitting innocently on the desk. I grip it firmly in my hand, heart pounding urgently. Turning back toward Eli, I crouch down, voice sturdy despite my fear.

“Eli, listen, okay? Mommy needs you to be very brave again. When I say run, you run straight out that door. Keep running until you find a way out. No matter what happens, no matter where Mommy is, you don’t stop. You keep running. Your daddies will find you. I promise.”

Eli’s eyes widen, frightened but determined. He nods resolutely. “Okay, Mommy.”

Standing in front of Eli, I close my eyes, praying silently, fury blazing fiercely in my heart. Randy’s cruelty ends today. No matter what it costs me, he will never harm my son.

But before I can finish my thought, the sudden sounds of chaos erupt from outside the room—voices shouting urgently, doors slamming, footsteps pounding loudly down hallways. Hope sparks brightly within me. I don’t know what’s happening, but now is the perfect chance.

“Eli, it’s time to run—now!”

The door swings violently open just as Eli bolts for the exit. Randy steps inside furiously, eyes wild as he lunges toward Eli’s retreating figure. My voice breaks urgently.

“Run, Eli! Keep going!”

Eli slips swiftly through Randy’s grasp, darting out the open doorway and disappearing down the hall. Randy spins around, enraged, face twisted in fury. He pulls a weapon from his waistband, holding it threateningly in my direction.

“You stupid, worthless woman,” Randy snarls viciously, stepping closer. “Do you realize what you’ve just done?”

Panic spikes in my chest, but I refuse to cower. Breathing deeply, I steel myself, determination steadying my shaking limbs. “This ends here, Randy. You don’t get to control us anymore.”

A cruel smile twists Randy’s mouth, his finger tightening visibly on the trigger. “Oh, it will end, Ava. For you, anyway.”

In a desperate surge of courage, I throw myself toward Randy just as he raises the gun to aim. We collide forcefully, tumbling hard onto the office floor, grappling wildly. The gun fires suddenly, the sound deafening, echoing through the confined space.

I freeze, heart stopping as I feel something warm seep rapidly into my clothes.

Terror floods me—but then I realize I feel no pain.

Confusion grips me briefly before I scramble backward, realizing the warmth spreading across my chest isn’t mine.

Randy’s eyes stare blankly upward, the gunshot having struck him directly in the chest.

For a long, frozen moment, I remain motionless, breathing raggedly. Realization sinks into me. Randy is completely still. My heart races with wild disbelief, relief rushing through me so strongly I nearly collapse from the weight of it.

I’m free. It’s finally over.

But I can’t allow myself to stop moving yet. Eli is still out there, waiting for me, scared and alone. I shove to my feet, pulse racing, adrenaline driving me urgently forward.

I run into the hallway with reckless abandon, determined to find my son and never let him go again.