Outside their hotel the following morning, Casey basked in the crisp air as he led Wyatt to the hotel's parking lot. Sunlight struggled to peek out from the gray stormy clouds. Lani trailed behind them, distracted by something on her phone.

After being cooped up inside all night, Casey wanted to get out of their hotel room for a while. Being in a new town, he assumed they were safe and left their dad back in the room to rest.

As they reached his car, Casey noticed a tall man glare at them. At first, he swore he was being paranoid. But while he buckled Wyatt in his car seat, the stranger continued sending hateful glares that could've pierced through him like daggers. The larger build and unkempt facial hair didn't ring any bells to Casey. He didn't recognize him as Black Viper member.

Casey wasted no time climbing in his car and locking the doors, ensuring they were safe inside as he reversed out of the lot. That man kept watching them, leaving an uneasy sensation in the pit of Casey's chest.

Perhaps he was just a creep. A drifter. Some rough homeless man. Yet, even as they drove away, something told Casey otherwise. He wished he'd listened to his instincts.

"Did you notice that guy loitering around?" Casey asked.

"Huh? No, why? You don't think they've found us here, do you?" Lani glanced over her shoulder.

"Nah, I don't think so. I mean, he just seemed strange. Could just have been a drifter, but I'm not sure," Casey explained. "I've got a bad feeling about him. When we get back, we need to be careful if he's still around."

"Someone bad is here?" Wyatt asked.

"You don't have to worry," Casey assured his son. "We won't let any bad guys get us. I think he was just a drifter."

"I don't know. Do you think we should inform the police? Or at least the hotel's front desk?" Lani asked. "I'll text Dad and let him know to keep an eye out."

"What if they think we're being paranoid?" Casey countered. "I'd feel bad if the guy was just homeless and the police came hounding him with questions."

"Who cares? He shouldn't be acting like such a darn creep."

"You didn't even notice him," Casey pointed out.

"So what? I trust your judgment," Lani replied. "If you think that guy was up to no good, then you need to report it."

"Yeah, alright. I will when we stop. Where do you two wanna go for breakfast?" Casey asked. "It's my treat."

"I'm good with anything." Lani shrugged, gazing back at Wyatt. "Whatchu want?"

"Not hungry."

"There has to be something you'd like. How about we stop for some sausage biscuits and gravy?" Casey encouraged him. "I know you really like that. We haven't had it in a long time."

Wyatt scrunched up his nose. "Ew, not hungry."

"You want pancakes again?" Casey asked.

"No."

"Um, how about applesauce or oatmeal? I don't mind stopping at the store," Casey offered.

"No."

"Let's just stop at McDonald's," Lani suggested.

Wyatt's face lit up. "Yeah, we go to McDonald's!"

Casey sighed, relieved that his son finally came to a conclusion on somewhere they could eat. Sometimes, he could be too picky about what he ate, and Casey really didn't need the extra hassle.

They could afford something simple like McDonald's, but with the bakery closed, it wouldn't be long before money got short. They'd have to think of something else. They couldn't stay on the run and hide in a hotel forever.

Once at the restaurant, Casey parked and drove up to the drive-thru. Normally, he didn't like eating in his car, but he didn't feel like going inside or bringing their food back to the hotel. Casey also wanted to give Detective Bailey an update on the strange man hanging around, even if he posed no threat to them. It was better to be safe than sorry.

As Casey munched on his Egg McMuffin, he viewed the new messages from the detective, who asked for a description of the man. Casey did his best to depict him well, hoping it would be enough to at least chase the guy away from their hotel. If he still hung around there.

"Hey, maybe after breakfast, we could stop at the local park," Lani suggested. "We've been cooped up in that freaking hotel room, it feels nice to get out. Especially since we don't have to keep looking over our shoulders out here."

"I don't know." Casey considered her idea. "I'm not too sure we're safe out here. You never know what those gang members are capable of."

"I wanna go to the park!" Wyatt insisted through a mouthful of hashbrown.

Casey relented. "Alright, fine. But not for long, okay? It's still a bit chilly out and we only brought your one coat."

"Yay!"

Promises of rain hung heavy in the clouds soaring above them. Casey ensured Wyatt was bundled up, tugging his hood over his head to keep the bitter wind away from his ears. Wyatt made his way over to the playground and climbed up to one of the slides. Casey followed close behind him, with Lani close at his heel.

"Looks like he's having fun," Lani remarked.

Casey smiled. "Yeah, I'm glad."

"I wish it could always be like this." Lani sighed. "It's nice out here. Much different from New Syracuse."

"Maybe we should move out here," Casey suggested.

"Could we afford it?" Lani asked. "What about the bakery?"

"I don't know. We'd have to talk it over more with Dad."

Casey wished things could be simpler. Why did the gang need to target their family? Casey would've been willing to do almost anything to get them off their back. The only way they'd be free from them would be abandoning their home and relocating someplace far away from New Syracuse.

While Casey watched Wyatt go down a spiraling slide for the fifth time, a lanky man donned in a dark hoodie and denim jeans came down the sidewalk. Casey kept an eye on the man, ensuring he came nowhere near them. Paranoia strangled him as he sunk his nails deep into his wrists, forming little cresenats in his skin.

The man made eye contact with him as he passed their bench. He offered a small smile, not saying a word as he continued down the pavement. Casey frowned, watching the guy until he vanished from the community park.

"Hey, are you alright?" Lani asked, nudging his shoulder.

"Maybe we should leave," Casey murmured. "Yeah, come on. Let's get back to the hotel."

As Casey made his way over to the playground, a black SUV pulled up into the parking lot, right beside his car. Casey gulped. He beckoned Wyatt to his side, gazing over at the lot where the SUV waited for them.

Could they outrun them? Casey would need to carry Wyatt, which would slow them down, but at the very least, maybe Lani could escape.

"Alright, buddy. We gotta get back to the hotel now," Casey told him, heading back to the bench where Lani sat. "I think those bad people might've followed us. But I don't want you to be scared, okay? I won't let anything happen to you."

"Bad people?" Wyatt questioned, lips quivering.

"What should we do?" Lani glanced back toward the parking lot. "I already called the police, but they told me I'm probably being paranoid."

"Call Detective Bailey." Casey handed her his phone. "Take Wyatt and get inside a public place with lots of people. They're less likely to do anything with so many people around. This ain't New Syracuse."

"What are you gonna do?" Lani asked.

"Keep them distracted. They probably want me more than anything," Casey pointed out.

"Don't be an idiot. Just come with us," Lani insisted. "They haven't made any moves yet."

"No, but they will. The moment we try to leave, they'll follow us. If I stay behind, they might ignore you."

Before either of them had a chance to strategize more, two men climbed out of the SUV and made their way toward them. Casey cursed under his breath, gazing around the park for something he could use as a weapon. If only he'd brought something to defend himself with. It wasn't like he wanted to drive around with a gun in their car.

"Come on, Wyatt." Lani gently lifted him up in her arms. "We'll try to make it downtown. Be careful, Casey."

Casey nodded. "I will. Hurry and get outta here."

Casey trudged toward the burly men, swallowing the lump that formed in his throat. Lani's voice carried over to him, but he couldn't look back. It would only make him want to turn back and run away with them. Casey couldn't afford to be a coward. Not when his son and sister's lives were at stake.

"That's him, ain't?" A man with a silver belt buckle and cowboy hat asked. He coughed up a nasty ball of phlegm and spit it on the ground.

"You guys seem lost," Casey's voice wavered, yet he kept his head held high, praying silently to the God above not to let them kill him. "Looking for someone?"

"Yeah, we looking for a baker and his family. Know anything about em?"

"Nope. Haven't seen any baker around here," Casey lied. "You might wanna try somewhere else.."

"Ya hear that?" One of the guys elbowed the other, leering.

Casey spared a glance behind him, hoping that Lani and Wyatt had enough time to escape. The two rough-looking men that towered over him seemed amused, which Casey only hoped would be a good enough distraction to keep them away from his family.

"You don't gotta bullshit us, man. We know you're Casey. If you behave, we'll let you go with a minor beating. Just a warning, ya know? Boss don't even want nothing to with you. He wants Wyatt.."

Heartbeat hammering in his chest, Casey balled his fists at his sides. There was no way he could fend both men off, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try to. Casey would do everything he could to keep them safe.

"I won't let you hurt my family."

All the rage and grief spiraled in the punch he sent at the buff man's nose. It hurt his knuckles when he pulled back, but nothing prepared him for the agony of a punch to the gut. It knocked the wind right out of him.

The men didn't go easy on him. Aggressive fists flew toward his face, hitting each intended target while he tried his best to block the attacks. His arms couldn't protect him from the violent blows. Pain pierced his cheek, his nose, and his swelling left eye. No matter how much they beat him, he wouldn't back down.

Each punch of Casey's inflicted no damage to the resilient men but that didn't stop him from trying. If only he had the strength to keep his family safe. Blood dripped from his nostril, leaving a salty metallic tang on his lips.

"Give up now, little man. You ain't got much fight left in ya."

"Go to hell." Casey spit in his face. Determination glowered in his eyes as he curled his hand into a fist and sent a blow directly at the man's mouth.

Police sirens wailed in the distance. It gave Casey the hope he so desperately needed to keep fighting. If he lasted long enough until the cops arrived, they'd be safe for another day. Despite the agony pulsing through his beaten body, he wouldn't give up.

Guttural screams rent the air so suddenly, every nerve in Casey's body froze. His head shot back toward Lani and Wyatt. They'd almost reached the main road. Another car had pulled up across the park, and although Casey's vision blurred, he could still make out a male figure trying to pry his son from Lani's arms.

Casey wrenched himself from the two men. He staggered on his feet as he turned to run toward their direction. Callous hands strangled him from behind, pulling him away from his son and little sister. Despite how he clawed at the forearms around his neck, they wouldn't budge. Casey opened his mouth, desperate for the oxygen he'd been deprived of, and chomped down on the man's exposed bit of flesh until he tasted fresh, warm blood on his tongue.

"Let him go!" Casey cried out, breaking free from the man's grasp. "Take me instead. He's only a kid. Please, don't take him away."

As a man forced his son into his car, he wailed for Wyatt and forced his leaden legs to carry him as quickly as they could across the grass. His desperate pleas went unheard. Police sirens only grew louder but there was no time to wait. Casey had to catch up to that car. They'd take Wyatt away and he'd never see him again.

Pain gnawed at every limb but Casey fought through it. Each intake of raspy air made him feel like he'd faint but he kept screaming and pushing his body to its limit. Casey couldn't let those bastards take his precious little boy away.

He promised to keep him safe. He promised that no bad guys would ever get to him.

The car doors slammed shut. Casey tried to force himself to run faster, to somehow outrun a vehicle, as he made his way toward the road. Tires squealed against the asphalt, and in the backseat window, he caught a glimpse of his precious little boy seated by a stranger.

Exhaustion pulled him to the ground in a heap of frustrated tears and screams. Casey wanted to chase after them. He wanted to kill the bastards for even daring to lay a single hand on his son. But his body wouldn't move. He could barely catch his breath.

Lani dropped down beside him, stammering over her apologies. "I'm sorry. I tried to get away. They came outta nowhere. I couldn't fend them all off. I'm so sorry."

"Not... your fault." Casey rasped.

"I should've done more to protect him. Dammit." Lani dug her nails into the ground. "I thought they'd take me with them, but they kept me back. I bit one of the fuckers. Tried to get Wyatt back to my side."

"Wyatt was their next target," Casey said, defeat lacing his words as he gazed out at the road. "We gotta go find him, Lani. I-I don't know what I'll do without him."

"The police finally made it." Lani gestured toward the playground before resting a hand on her brother's back.

"They're too late," Casey muttered.

"Come on, they can help us. Maybe there's cameras around here too? They'll see where they went. I've got the license plate memorized. They won't make it that far without getting stopped."

Casey wanted to believe his sister. Above all, he wanted Wyatt brought back to him safe and unharmed. But as Lani helped him to his feet, dread anchored deep in his chest as he realized he might never see his sweet little boy again.