11. Chapter 11

"There we go, stinky boy. You're fed and your bum is fresh and clean. It's now time for your afternoon nap. Yes, it is, my chunky little cherub." I coo, brushing my nose over DJ's tiny one as I lift him up into my arms and pick up his favourite stuffed toy, an adorable little pig holding a little heart. "Oh, we can't forget to pack Piggly now, can we? No, you will scream bloody murder if we leave him behind." I check the time on my phone and drop it on the bed again before I walk out of the bedroom to put DJ down for a nap while I finish packing. "Daddy will be home any minute and he's going to be furious with mummy for not being done with packing yet and it's all your fault." DJ smiles up at me, melting my heart with his cuteness. I press a kiss to his forehead. "You're too cute for your own good, you know that?"

Humming to him quietly, I walk to the nursery and stop when I hear a noise from downstairs. Was that glass breaking? A second later I hear Lex's barking and growling. What on earth was that? "Lex? What have you broken again?" Sighing, I turn and make my way down the stairs. I bet he's seen the neighbour's cat at the window again. Last time he jumped up on the counter and smashed seven plates and our toaster in his frenzy to get to that damn cat.

Hurrying down the stairs I make my way to the kitchen and see Lex growling in the direction of the back door. My left foot only just steps into the kitchen when suddenly, the front door crashes open, shattering the peaceful silence. My heart leaps into my throat as I spin to see what the hell is happening as three men in dark clothing and masks storm in.

Oh fuck.

My arms instinctively tighten around DJ, keeping him protectively against my chest as I back up into the kitchen, my legs shaking furiously with every step when their eyes zero in on me. Fear grips me tight. My mind becomes blank and before I can think to react they're striding toward me with purpose. My mind screams at me to turn and run and as I'm about to one of them grabs me by the hair and drags me back. "Ahh… who are you?! What do you want?!" I scream, clutching DJ as tightly as I can against me.

"Shut up." The man growls icily in my ear. "Give me the kid."

"No!" I scream, holding DJ tighter. "No, no, please!" I plead, tears streaming down my face as I struggle against his hold. "You're not taking my baby!" I cry, my voice breaking with desperation. I try with all my might to shield DJ with my body, but the second man steps forward and punches me in the stomach. Every bit of air rushes out of my lungs, and I double over in pain, my grip loosening on DJ. Through the pain in my stomach, I can hear Lex barking ferociously, his fur bristled, and his eyes locked onto the intruders.

"Get the kid," the first man holding onto my hair orders the second.

"No…" I wheeze as the second man pries DJ from my arms with a ruthless smile. DJ wails, his tiny fists flailing as he's ripped away from me. I reach out for him. Pushing aside the pain I fight to get to him, clawing at the leader where I can, but he strikes me across the face with something hard and I hit the floor with a dull thud, my head striking the edge of the dining table on the way down.

Pain explodes in my skull, and my vision blurs as I scramble to get back up. I can't think about the pain. I need to save my son. "No! DJ!" I scream as loud as my lung allow as they turn to walk away. I somehow find the strength to push myself up on unsteady legs and follow them.

I can feel something warm trickling down the side of my face, and I don't need to touch it to know it's blood. I can smell the metallic scent and it makes my stomach turn. DJ's cries become louder, and I can see through my blurred vision that he's looking back at me, reaching for his mum, the one person who is supposed to keep him safe, but I can't get to him.

Before the men could make it to the front door, Lex launches himself at the second man holding DJ, sinking his teeth into his arm. The man screams, shoving DJ almost violently at the third man standing in front of him. "DJ," I whimper, rushing over to him while clinging onto the walls for support. "Don't hurt my baby, please!" I fall at the third man's feet, sobbing. "Take me, take me instead, please! Don't take my baby. I'll come with you, I won't make a sound."

"Get this fucking dog off me!" the second man shouts, thrashing wildly.

The leader turns, pulling out a gun. "Hold still!" he barks grimly.

"Lex, no!" I scream, but it's too late. The gunshot echoes in the house, and Lex yelps, collapsing to the floor. "NO!"

"Let's go," the leader barks again. The men hurry out of the house, DJ's cries fade as they disappear out of the door. I crawl over to Lex, tears streaming down my face. "Lex," I whisper, placing my hand on his stomach. His breathing is shallow, and blood pools around him, staining my hands and clothes. "Stay with me, okay. Please, hang in there. You're going to be okay." I push up to my feet, my head spins, but I manage to keep myself grounded and run out of the front door screaming for help.

Looking around frantically I spot the three men getting into a black van and race after them. "DJ!" His screams ring in my ears and it kills me. "Stop! Please, please, don't take my baby!" I throw myself at them, pulling at their jackets, fighting to stop them. "Help! Someone help me, please! They're taking my baby!"

The one I'm holding grabs me by the throat and brings my face close to his. "If you want to kill someone, kill me. He's an innocent little baby, please, I'm begging you, don't hurt my baby." I sob. "Take me instead."

"Let's move!"

The man shoves me away with a force that takes me by surprise. I stumble backwards, my feet unable to keep up with the sudden movement. I hit the ground hard, my back slamming into the unforgiving concrete curb. I cry out, a rush of pain shoots through me, stealing the air from my lungs.

I watch in shock as they all hurriedly pile into the van and slam the door shut behind them. "Oh God…" With every ounce of strength I have left, I drag myself towards the van, desperately trying to pull myself up using the handle on the side. "Stop, please, give me back my baby! Don't take him from me, please!" my heart races as I pound my fist against the metal, screaming for someone to help me. But it's too late. The van screeches away, leaving behind nothing but a trail of dust and exhaust fumes. In a daze, I chase after them, my legs moving as fast as they can, my bare feet scratching against the rough gravel.

"No! No, please, stop! Help, somebody, help me!" I cry out, knowing that it's futile but unable to stop myself from trying. Tears of despair stream down my face as I collapse onto the pavement, my voice hoarse from shouting.

My heart is pounding so hard that it feels like it might explode out of my chest. The sound of concerned voices fills the air as neighbours and passersby gather around me, but their words are distant and muffled, drowned out by the ringing in my ears. My eyes are fixed on the empty street before me as tears blur my vision. All I can think about is DJ, my sweet baby boy who was just ripped away from me by the same people who want to take my husband's life.

"DJ!" I cry out, my voice echoing through the empty street. But there's no one left to hear me, no one to help.

My mind is consumed with fear for my baby's safety. Just like they callously took Lex's life, I know they will not hesitate to end DJ's as well. The thought needles at my heart like a thousand knives, each one piercing deeper and deeper. My tears mix with screams of anguish as I am left alone, paralyzed with terror for my child's fate.

"They took my baby." I cry, when an older woman I recognise as my neighbour kneels beside me to try and help but I push her hands off me. "They shot my dog, he's… in the house, and oh God, they're going to kill him too. They're going to kill my baby!"

"Sweetheart, we've called the police, they're on the way, okay? They're going to find your baby. You're bleeding, let's get you off the street and back inside." I shake my head, looking at the road ahead, hoping by some miracle they'll come back, or someone intervened before they could get away and bring DJ back to me. But no one comes.

I can still hear his screams ringing in my ears.

In the distance, the blaring sirens grow louder and a loud screech of tires echoes through the buildings. From my huddled position on the ground, I strain to hear through the chaos.

"Jeyla!" Through my cries, I hear Dean's voice calling for me.

"Dean…"

"Move!" When I look up, I see him racing toward me, pushing through the frantic crowd of people to reach me. Every muscle in his body is tense with urgency and determination. When he sees the bloodied state of me, he visibly pales. "Christ."

"Dean," I whimper as he falls to his knees beside me, followed closely by Oscar.

"JJ, hey, look at me, baby, are you okay?" he questions in a flurry, and he gently cups my face in his large hands while his eyes examine my face to see where the blood is coming from. "Answer me, JJ. Fuck, where are you hurt?"

"They took him." My tears flow freely as I cling to Dean's hoodie with my blood-stained hands. "They took DJ, and I… I c-couldn't s-stop them." With fierce protectiveness in his eyes, Dean's eyes lift while his fingers stroke my face. His piercing green eyes locking onto mine. "They're going to kill him," I sob woefully. Oscar takes my hand that is stained with Lex's blood into his and presses it to his lips, his eyes full of concern when they meet mine. "They shot Lex, and I… I just left him there to save DJ… he's hurt and it's all my fault. I couldn't protect them. They're going to kill DJ, they're going to take him from me too."

When I look back at Dean, I find a pained expression staring back at me, before he shakes his head, his jaw set tight. Even though he's shaking with anger, I can tell he's fighting back tears. "JJ, listen to me, baby," he says firmly, but his voice wavers with emotion. "None of this is your fault, all right? They're not going to kill DJ. If Viktor wanted him dead, he would have had you both killed there and then. He wants me, and he's using DJ as a barter to draw me out," he punctuates each word with conviction. "I'm not going to let anything happen to our baby, I swear to you. We need to get you looked at. You're bleeding JJ. I need you to tell me where you're hurt?"

I shake my head; my wounds are the least of my concern right now. They have my baby. "Dean, please, get our son back. I want my baby back." I plead.

"I know baby, I'm going to get our son back safe and sound." With that promise, he pulls me into his strong embrace and I breakdown in his arms. Dean draws back and looks down into my face, the concern and worry evident in his eyes, "I'm sorry, JJ, I'm so sorry. I should have trusted my instincts and not left you alone." Dean murmurs against my forehead. "I'm going to fix this. I'm going to get our son back. I promise."

"Captain Reyes," a voice breaks through the moment and we turn to see a group of men in bullet proof vests surrounding us. Are these the security men that were appointed to protect us? "It's not safe out here, we should go inside. The police and paramedics are here, they should examine your wife." One of the four men—the most senior one I assume—says, his tone devoid of any emotion.

My mind is consumed with worry and my body trembles with trepidation.

Dean and Oscar, both help me up to my feet and now the adrenaline has left my system my body aches in protest from all the battering and trauma I've endured. Dean notices me wincing and struggling to stand straight so he carefully lifts me into his arms and carries me back toward the house.

"Oh God, Lex …" I whimper and bury my face into Dean's neck when we walk into the house, and I see Lex's body on the floor, lifeless and in a pool of his own blood where I had no choice but to leave him. I can't bear to see him like that when I'm the reason he's hurt. Oscar rushes past Dean and I and kneels beside Lex to check and see if he's breathing. "Please, tell me he's still alive. He tried to stop them from taking DJ and they just shot him."

Oscar's eyes flutter closed, his brows furrowing in pain and sadness. Slowly, he shakes his head, wordlessly telling us he's not made it. Dean gently lowers me down to my feet, but I am unable to move. My heart feels heavy as I walk over on shaky legs and kneel beside Lex. I carefully cradle his head in my arms and let out a deep, gut-wrenching sob. Lex was so much more than just a pet to me. He was my loyal companion, always by my side through the worst days of my life. On days when I felt completely lost and alone, he would curl up next to me and lay his little head on my stomach, offering comfort without words. Tears stream down my face as I whisper apologies to him, wishing I could turn back time and stop him from attacking the men.

"I'm so sorry," I sob, unable to control the flood of emotions that crash over me at the sight of Lex's lifeless form. It feels like my chest is caving in on itself. I'm crippled with fear and the grief I'm feeling right now is debilitating. My lungs are burning, and I want to scream to the heavens, curse my fate until they implode, but nothing comes out.

I'm suffocating.

In a matter of ten minutes, I've lost my baby boy and my beloved dog. When is it going to end? Why am I constantly being punished? What could I have possibly done to deserve such immense suffering?

Tears stream down my cheeks as I silently cry out to God, pleading for relief from this never-ending agony. It feels like some twisted test meant to break me beyond repair, as if I am nothing more than a plaything for fate to fuck with.

It's painfully clear that my destiny is one of constant loss and heartache, where everything and everyone I love will one by one inevitably be taken from me. How much can one person take? Every time I manage to pick myself up, life seems to kick me back down even harder.

God, I'm tired–bone fucking tired—of constantly being knocked down by life's endless blows. There's only so many times a person can pick themselves up before they reach their breaking point. And as I lay here on the ground cradling my lifeless dog in my arms, battered and bruised yet again, I think I have finally hit mine.