Chapter 16 - The Home Invasion
I watched the surveillance monitor in absolute silence as Damon and Claire approached the back patio door.
Damon was holding a heavy steel crowbar, moving with a desperate, jerky energy. Claire was right behind him, clutching a small black bag.
They looked like two ghosts, hollowed out by their own greed and malice.
Damon jammed the crowbar into the sliding glass door frame. He expected resistance, but Liam had specifically deactivated the locking mechanism on that specific door.
The door slid open smoothly without a single sound, making Damon stumble forward into the dark living room.
"It's open," Damon whispered furiously to Claire. "She really is as stupid as I thought."
Claire stepped inside, her eyes darting around the completely dark house.
"Just get the baby, Damon. We take her daughter, and Maya will sign over every last cent of the settlement money to get her back," Claire hissed, her voice dripping with venom.
I felt a violent surge of maternal rage explode in my chest. They were not here to kill me. They were here to kidnap my child.
Liam put a heavy, restraining hand on my shoulder, sensing I was about to sprint up the stairs.
"Wait for it," Liam whispered, his eyes glued to the screens. "Let them get fully inside the containment zone."
Damon and Claire crept quietly past the kitchen island and began ascending the carpeted stairs toward the nursery.
When they reached the top landing, Damon pulled out a pair of thick zip ties from his jacket pocket.
He slowly pushed open the nursery door, stepping into the dimly lit room. He approached the crib, pulling back the heavy pink blankets.
"What the hell is this?" Damon growled loudly.
He reached in and pulled out the plastic baby doll, throwing it violently across the room.
"It's a trap!" Claire screamed, turning to run back toward the staircase.
Before she could take a single step, Liam hit a button on his control console.
Heavy steel security shutters slammed down over all the windows and exterior doors of the house simultaneously, locking with a deafening metallic crash.
The house was instantly plunged into absolute, pitch-black darkness.
"Liam, hit the lights," I said smoothly.
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Blinding, high-intensity strobe lights erupted in the upstairs hallway, completely disorienting the two intruders.
I walked out of the basement and stood at the bottom of the staircase, staring up at the two monsters who had tried to destroy my life.
