They were here to silence me.

CRACK.

The crowbar hit the bay window and the sound was deafening. The reinforced double pane didn’t give — but a fracture bloomed across the center of it like a spiderweb.

I screamed, stumbled backward over a half-unpacked box of books, and went down hard on the floor.

“Stand back!” Ryan roared.

“Break it!” Arthur shouted over the wind, every trace of paternal concern gone. “Get inside and find the boxes! Tear the bedroom apart!”