FOUND

FOUND
Michelle's Pov

We had been at the motel for three days. It was small and cheap and in the middle of nowhere. Hayden thought we would be safe there because nobody knew we were coming.

But he was wrong.

I was giving the twins a bath in the tiny motel bathroom when I heard a car pull up outside. The engine shut off and doors opened. Two doors. Maybe three.

"Hayden," I called out. "Did you order food?"

"No," Hayden said from the other room. "Why?"

"Someone just pulled up," I said.

I heard Hayden go to the window. Then I heard him curse.

"Get the twins out of the tub," Hayden said. His voice was urgent. "Now."

I pulled Hope and James out of the water and wrapped them in towels. They started crying because they were cold and wet, but I did not have time to dry them properly.

Their small bodies trembled against me, teeth chattering, fingers clutching at my shirt. “It’s okay, it’s okay,” I whispered, even though my own hands were shaking. Water dripped onto the floor, pooling around our feet as I hurried toward the car.

I could hear shouting somewhere behind us—voices getting closer. There was no time to explain, no time to comfort them the way they needed. I bundled them into the back seat, still wrapped in damp towels, and slammed the door shut.

“Just hold on,” I said, more to myself than to them. “Just hold on a little longer.”

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Black SUV," Hayden said. "Three men getting out. One of them is Dmitri."

My heart stopped. "How did they find us?"

"I don't know," Hayden said. "But we need to leave. Right now."

There was a loud bang on the door. "Open up," a man's voice shouted. "We know you're in there."

Hayden grabbed the gun he bought after the last attack. He checked to make sure it was loaded.

"Take the twins out the bathroom window," Hayden said to me. "There's a car parked behind the building. Get in it and drive away. Don't stop. Don't look back."

"I'm not leaving you," I said.

"You have to," Hayden said. "The twins need you."

Another bang on the door. Louder this time. They were trying to break it down.

I wanted to argue but Hayden was right. I had to protect Hope and James. I had to get them out of here.

I climbed into the bathtub and opened the window above it. It was small, but I could fit through it. I pushed James out first onto the ground outside. He started crying louder.

The sound tore at me, sharp and panicked in the dark. “It’s okay, baby,” I whispered urgently, though I couldn’t reach him yet. The night air rushed in through the open window, cold against my wet skin, carrying the smell of smoke and something burning.

I turned back and lifted Hope next, guiding her carefully through the narrow opening. My arms trembled from strain and fear. Every second felt stolen.

There were footsteps in the hallway now. Closer.

I swung one leg over the sill, heart hammering. There was no more time.

"Shh baby," I whispered. "Please be quiet."

I pushed Hope out next. Then I climbed out myself. My feet hit the gravel and pain shot through my ankle but I did not care.

Behind me I heard the motel room door crash open. Shouting. Fighting. A gunshot.

"Hayden," I screamed.

But I could not go back. I had the twins. I had to get them to safety.

I picked up both babies and ran toward the car Hayden mentioned. It was an old sedan parked behind the dumpster. The keys were in the ignition like Hayden said they would be.

I put the twins in the back seat. They were still wrapped in towels crying and scared. I did not have time to buckle them into car seats. I just had to get us away from here.

I started the car and was about to drive off when I heard more gunshots. Three shots. Then silence.

I could not leave. Not without knowing if Hayden was okay. Not without helping him.

"Stay here babies," I said to Hope and James. "Mommy will be right back."

I got out of the car and ran back toward the motel. The door was hanging open. I could see inside.

Hayden was on the floor. Blood was everywhere. Dmitri was standing over him holding a knife.

"No!" I screamed.

Dmitri turned and looked at me. He smiled. "The wife. Mr. Kane will be pleased."

He started walking toward me. I looked around for anything I could use as a weapon. There was a piece of wood near the dumpster. Part of an old fence or something.

I grabbed it and swung at Dmitri as hard as I could. It hit him in the head and he stumbled back.

"You bitch," he said. Blood was running down his face.

He lunged at me but I swung again. This time I hit his arm. I heard a crack and he dropped the knife.

Dmitri grabbed me and we both fell to the ground. He was stronger than me. Heavier. He pinned me down and started choking me.

I could not breathe. My vision was getting dark. I tried to fight but he was too strong.

Then suddenly he was not on top of me anymore. Someone pulled him off. I gasped for air and looked up.

Hayden. He was standing there bleeding and holding his side, but he was alive. He hit Dmitri with something—a lamp maybe… I could not see clearly.

The room was chaos. Shattered glass glittered across the floor. The lamp base lay crooked near Dmitri’s shoulder, its shade torn and smoking where it had struck. Hayden swayed slightly, one hand pressed tight against his ribs, blood seeping between his fingers.

For a split second our eyes met. Relief crashed through me so hard it almost buckled my knees. He was hurt. He was barely upright. But he was still standing.

Dmitri groaned on the ground, dazed but not finished. And we all knew this fight wasn’t over yet.

Dmitri went down hard. Hayden hit him again. And again. Until Dmitri stopped moving.

"Is he dead?" I asked.

"I don't know," Hayden said. "I don't care."

Hayden stumbled and almost fell. I caught him and saw the blood. So much blood. He had been stabbed in the side.

"Oh my god," I said. "Hayden you're hurt bad."

"I'm okay," Hayden said. But he was not okay. He was pale and shaking.

"We need to get you to a hospital," I said.

"The twins," Hayden said. "Where are they?"

"In the car," I said. "Come on. Lean on me."

I helped Hayden walk to the car. The other two men from the SUV were lying on the ground near the motel room door. I did not know if they were dead or unconscious. I did not stop to check.

I got Hayden into the passenger seat and then I drove. I drove as fast as I could toward the nearest town. Toward help.

"Stay with me," I kept saying to Hayden. "Don't close your eyes. Stay awake."

“I’m trying,” Hayden said, his voice weak and uneven. “Michelle, I’m sorry. I should have protected you better.”

The words cut through me sharper than the blood on his shirt. I dropped to my knees beside him, pressing my hands over his where he held his side. “Stop,” I said, my voice breaking. “You did protect us. You’re still protecting us.”

He tried to shake his head, stubborn even now. “I let them get too close.”

Tears blurred my vision, but I forced myself to stay steady. “We’re alive,” I whispered. “That’s what matters. You don’t get to apologize for surviving.”

His fingers tightened around mine, and for a moment the chaos around us faded. All that mattered was that he was still here.

"You saved us," I said. "You saved all of us."

Blood was soaking through his shirt. Dripping onto the seat. There was so much blood.

"Faster," I told myself. "Drive faster."

The twins were crying in the back seat. They were cold and scared and did not understand what was happening. I wanted to comfort them but I had to focus on driving. Had to get Hayden to a hospital before it was too late.