"Cousin!" Tara cried out.
The man standing next to her, one of her guards, slapped her across the face in annoyance. "Shut up! Who said you could talk!"
The blow was so forceful it snapped Tara's head to the side, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
Iris trembled with fear, her large eyes welling up with tears. But she didn't dare make a sound, biting her lip hard.
Tara looked down just as Iris looked up at her.
Tara's heart broke in an instant.
She blinked, and a tear fell onto Iris's chubby cheek. Still, she forced a smile, not wanting to frighten her little girl.
She whispered, "I'm sorry, sweetie. I didn't mean to scare you. Don't be afraid. Mommy will protect you."
It was unclear which word set her off, but Iris buried her face in Tara's chest, her small body shaking uncontrollably.
They were shoved aside.
The smoke rising from below made it hard for Nina Donovan to breathe, and she couldn't stop coughing.
