Page 67 of Married to the Devil

At first I don’t understand what’s going on. Men stand around the dark van, and where’s Marnie? Where’s her bed? Shouldn’t she be here? The men are spread out and carrying heavy automatic weapons which bark like fireworks, their muzzles spraying death and fire. Blood splatters on the wall beside me and I look over to see that friendly caulking guard’s head pulverized into a shiny smear of brain and bone. He slumps to the ground.

Ten seconds earlier. If I hadn’t been in the pool…

Someone screams my name. Rafe’s guards rushing to defend me. But why are they doing that? More bullets slam into the wall next to my head and it finally sinks in.

It’s happening again.

I throw myself back inside barely in time to grab Hattie. She screams, tears streaming down her face. “TOO LOUD!” she yells, covering her ears. “Please make them stop!”

I don’t answer. I sprint to the stairs as more gunfire breaks out behind me. Windows shatter, spraying glass. I feel some bite into my arms and legs, shards of it slicing my skin. I don’t slow as I reach the bottom step and hurl myself upward, Hattie bouncing in my arms.

I’ve never moved so fast. I keep my body between the men outside and my daughter. More guards are pouring in downstairs, but they get mowed down as the attackers burst in through the front door. There are screams, blood, and I grip Hattie hard and cover her face and ears to keep her from hearing and seeing this nightmare.

I reach the top of the steps and panic.

Where the fuck am I supposed to go? There’s no escape from up here. Marnie’s room—Hattie’s room—my room⁠—

The closet.

I spring away. It’s stupid and I know it. The closet won’t protect us. But I hope it’ll keep us hidden long enough.

For what, I don’t even know.

I’m past thinking. I reach the room and rush in through the doors.

“Mommy! Mommy, stop! What’s happening, my ears hurt, Mommy!” Hattie sobs against my chest. I grit my teeth, hating this, hating myself, so angry I could burst to pieces, but she’s my priority now. I have to keep her safe, no matter what.

I throw myself into the closet and shut the door. “It’s okay, baby, it’s okay, we’re going to be safe.” I look around desperately. “Listen, hide under that pile of clothes, okay?”

Hattie shakes her head. “No! Mommy!”

“Listen to me.” I grip her arms. I’ve never once touched her like this but now I have to be firm. I have to make sure she listens. Her little eyes go wide in surprise as I dig in my fingers hard enough to get her attention. “You have to hide. Please, Hattie, get under the pile and do not move. Don’t make any noise, don’t do anything. Stay in there until you hear me or Rafe tell you to come out. Can you do that?”

“Mommy, I don’t want to.”

“Go now.” There’s shouting down the hall. More shooting, more screaming. “Hattie, go!”

With tears streaming over her face, she wriggles into the pile of clothes. I cover her more, whispering as much encouragement as I can as the yelling and stomping gets closer. The shooting is more distant now; there’s fighting further away on the property, but it’s not here anymore.

Gone. She’s gone. I can’t see her and I have to stop fussing. The men are in the room now, I can hear them. I back away, heart racing, and press myself to the wall trying to sink into the clothes.

Go away. Go away. Go away!

The doorknob turns and the door slowly opens.

The man that enters isn’t much older than the guard I watched die, the nice one. This man’s holding a rifle, his clothes splattered with gore, sweat sheening his pale skin. He looks around, expression grim, and I’m so afraid Hattie’s going to do something to give herself away.

The clothes shift. There’s motion.

Shit.

I fall from my hiding place and drop to my knees. “You found me!” I yell, drawing his attention on to me. “Okay, you got me!”

His gun instantly points at my head. I think I’m going to die. That’s my end, right there, a steaming barrel held by a child. What the fuck is going on? Except he doesn’t pull the trigger. His eyes narrow, gaze hard.

“Are you June Corvino?”

“Yes! I’m Rafe’s wife!”