Page 141 of Jay Bird

But then she heard Nova’s voice in her head. Don’t fight his strength.

Willow planted one foot firmly against the pavement, shifted her hips, and drove her elbow backward. The man grunted when she connected with his ribs, and the instant his grip loosened, Willow turned and drove the heel of her palm upward. His head snapped back.

“What the fuck?” The shocked curse came from somewhere behind her, but Willow didn’t care enough to find out who had said it because Lily was still crying several yards away.

She ran toward her daughter. “Lily!”

Willow almost reached her when one of the men caught Lily first and lifted her from the ground.

“No!”

Whatever fear Willow had been feeling disappeared beneath a wave of rage so powerful that she barely recognized herself.

Lily screamed and kicked as the man tried to secure his hold on her. “Momma! Momma!”

“Put her down!”

Willow attacked him without thinking about the size difference between them. She kicked the side of his knee, and when he stumbled, she drove both hands hard into his chest.

“Give me my daughter!”

The man cursed and tried to turn away from her, but Willow grabbed at Lily while her daughter reached desperately toward her.

“Let the kid go,” Liu snapped.

The man finally released her.

Willow caught Lily against her chest and nearly sobbed with relief as those tiny arms wrapped tightly around her neck.

“I’ve got you, baby. Mommy’s got you.”

Lily buried her face against Willow’s shoulder.

The rescue center door was right there. Willow turned and ran.

She knew someone had to have heard her scream. All she needed was a few seconds. If she could get through that door, she could lock it behind her, and there were cameras everywhere around the building. Someone would call the police. Mia would call Jay Bird.

The thought of him gave Willow another burst of adrenaline.

She was only several yards from the entrance when something slammed into her from behind.

Willow twisted instinctively as she fell, taking the brunt of the impact on her shoulder and hip so Lily wouldn’t hit the pavement. Pain shot through her side.

“Lily, run to Mia!”

Her daughter clung tighter.

“Baby, you have to go!”

“No! Momma!”

Hands grabbed Willow from behind, and this time she didn’t freeze. She kicked violently, catching one man hard enough to make him swear before she rolled and drove her other foot upward. His grip disappeared, giving her enough room to scramble backward.

Liu stepped directly into her path, and Willow swung at him.

He blocked her first attempt, but when he reached for her, she redirected his arm and managed to catch the side of his mouth with her fist. His head snapped sideways.

Willow stared at him for half a second, almost as shocked as he was.