The flashlight beam swung around, locking onto my face and freezing me in place.

I squeezed the twins closer to my chest, my body acting as a shield against the light and the cold.

Luca let out a soft, wet whimper, his tiny fingers twitching against my collarbone.

“Step away from the tree,” Leo commanded, his boots crunching heavily on the soaked earth.

I backed up slowly until the cold stone wall marking the estate boundary stopped me.

Below the wall, the dark water of the lake lapped against the jagged rocks.

Leo stepped into the small clearing, holding a silver automatic pistol in one hand and the flashlight in the other.

The beam of light trembled slightly, catching the rain falling between us like silver needles.

“You really thought you could run from this?” Leo asked, a cold smile touching his lips.

“I wanted to save them,” I said, my voice barely louder than the wind.

“Save them from what?” he asked, taking another slow step forward.

“They are infants, Leo. They haven’t done anything to you.”

“They exist,” Leo said flatly.