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Samira crouched beneath the island, one arm over her head. Izzy was crawling toward the staircase, driven forward by the knowledge that the children were asleep in the rooms above us.

Tone remained beside the stove. One hand shielded her stomach while the other reached toward the drawer where I knew Raze kept a spare weapon.

Adriana crouched behind the other end of the island. Her face had lost its color, but panic had not taken her. Her eyes found mine the moment I entered.

I reached the wall and killed the kitchen lights. Darkness dropped across the room. Moonlight filtered through the windows in thin silver strips.

Raze came in behind me, remaining below the level of the windows.

“Safe room,” he ordered. “Move.”

Izzy quickened her pace toward the stairs.

Samira followed, keeping one hand against the cabinets for balance as another burst of gunfire struck the rear of the house.

Adriana started after them, but Tone lingered, shifting closer to the window. Archie appeared in the doorway as though he had known exactly what she intended.

Another burst struck the side of the house. Plaster sifted from the ceiling and settled across his shoulders as he crossed the kitchen and seized Tone by the arm.

“Go upstairs.”

Her head snapped toward him.

“Archie—”

He caught her face between his hands.

“Marigold needs you. Our child needs you.”

“They need both of us.”

A bullet tore through the cupboard above them. Archie dragged Tone down against his chest and fired twice through the broken rear window.

A man screamed outside.

Archie didn’t look toward the sound. His eyes remained fixed on his wife.

“I’m coming back to you.”

Tone gripped the front of his shirt.

“You’d better.”

He pressed his forehead against hers.

“If anyone reaches the second floor, you kill him.”

Tone’s eyes burned with the same fury consuming his. They didn’t promise that they would survive. They promised only what they would do to anyone who touched the people upstairs.

Archie released her and turned toward the hall.

Tone opened the drawer, took the pistol and started toward the stairs.

Another window shattered behind me.

Raze fired twice into the garden.

“Positions.”