Chapter 22

"William! Mr. Smith!" William's mother rushed in just as things were getting ugly. The second she saw the knife clutched in her son's hand, her face froze. "William, what are you doing with that knife? Calm down, put it down now!" "Mom, stay back!" His eyes were sharp and filled with desperate resolve. He stared straight at Elizabeth's father and said, "Dad, I'm not letting anyone take Elizabeth away. Unless I'm dead first. If you want her, you're gonna have to walk over my body to get to her." "William!" his mother shrieked, tears already pouring down her face. "What are you saying? Are you out of your mind?!" Was he insane? Probably. The moment he heard Elizabeth was gone. The instant he realized he'd never see her again. That very second he understood he couldn't even protect her body now— That's when it all snapped. Right then, William lost his damn mind. His head was filled with one thing only—he couldn't let them take her. He had to be by her side. He would stay next to her, fore