Chapter 21A couple of days later, Lily was fixing lunch in the kitchen when her phone started ringing. She glanced at the number - it was blocked again, just like the last time Chloe had called to taunt her.Her stomach dropped as she stared at the buzzing phone. Part of her didn't want to answer, scared of whatever deranged mind games that psycho might try. But then again, giving Chloe the silent treatment was probably exactly what she wanted.Taking a deep, steadying breath, Lily swiped to accept the call. "Hello?""Well, if it isn't always the little wifey," Chloe's sickly-candy voice at once grated on Lily's nerves. "Miss me?"Lily rolled her eyes so tough they nearly fell out of her head. "Can't say that I even have, no. What do you need this time, Chloe?"The other female let loose a derisive snicker. "Straight to the factor, I like that. Okay, I'll cut the chitchat - I wanted to individually extend you an invite.""An invitation?" Lily scoffed. "To what, your lobotomy? No than

Chapter 23 James pulled Lily's trembling body flush against his, feeling her shuddering breaths wracking her slight frame. His wife - his entire world - was shattering in his arms. All because of that unhinged monster Chloe and her latest twisted torment. White-hot rage surged through James's veins at the thought of what fresh hell Chloe had unleashed on them now. Threatening Lily's poor dad who was still so fragile after his heart attack...it was a new low, even for that depraved psychopath's standards. Using an innocent man's health to manipulate and torment them? James's jaw muscles ticked as he clenched his teeth hard enough to grind them. He could only imagine the overwhelming panic and fear gripping Lily at the thought of her beloved father being caught in the crosshairs of Chloe's warped delusions. Great, wracking sobs tore from Lily as she clung to him desperately. The guttural sounds of his brave, resilient wife completely breaking down with hopeless anguish simultaneously

Chapter 25 Lily felt ice water slam into her veins at Chloe's ominous words. The deranged woman's eyes glittered with undisguised malice and menace, like a coiled serpent ready to strike. A low rumble sounded from James, like a warning growl from a defensive predator. He angled his body slightly in front of Lily's in a shielding stance without even seeming to think about it. "You just can't help yourself, can you, you twisted bitch?" His deep voice carried a scorching heat. "Spouting off more unhinged threats and delusions of grandeur." Chloe's eyes flashed with displeasure at his mocking tone, her lip curling back over her teeth. "Still overconfident to the end, I see. Perhaps this will wipe that arrogant sneer off your face for good." With a dramatic flourish, she pulled a small remote from her pocket and thumbed a big red button. Instantly, the shadows around the rec room seemed to come alive with movement as several hulking shapes detached themselves. Lily felt her throat co

Chapter 27Lily was totally freaking out as she watched Louis bleeding out right in front of them. The huge, tough guy who always looked like he could take on anything was now a broken mess, guts practically spilling onto the floor. It was crazy messed up.James shifted, blocking her view of the gruesome scene. His jaw was clenched so tight Lily thought his teeth might crack. She could see the muscle in his cheek twitching like crazy. "Talk to me, Louis," he growled in that deep voice of his. "What the hell is going on out there?"Louis sucked in a wheezy breath, eyes glazing over. But he managed to rasp out, "Ambush... Chloe's men... hit us hard..."One of the other tactical guys leaned in, trying to put pressure on Louis' massive wound. But it was no use - the blood just kept pouring out. Lily felt sick watching it soak through the guy's gloves."We're getting outnumbered and outgunned, sir," the tactical guy said, looking to James with poorly concealed fear. "They've got us surrou

Chapter 29Lily stared at James, her belly tying itself in knots. She had the equal sinking feeling he did - this wasn't over with Chloe, not by means of a protracted shot."You think she's lying? That this is another one of her twisted mind games?" Lily asked, fear creeping into her voice.James shook his head in confusion. "Seriously ,I don't know what to think, I'm confused. On one hand, getting institutionalized by her own family sounds like it could be legit. But on the other..." He trailed off, jaw ticking."You don't trust her as far as you can throw her," Lily finished.He gave a curt nod. "Exactly. That snake would say anything to try and catch us off guard. We can't let our guard down until we know for sure what her game is."Lily felt her shoulders slump a little. Of course it couldn't be that easy to put this nightmare behind them. When had anything with Chloe ever been simple?"So what now?" she asked. "We still need to go get my dad from the police station.""Yeah, we'll