Mistress. The word burned. I hadn’t even considered myself one. But before I could defend myself, they stormed inside. Chaos erupted. Jenny screamed, trying to shield me, but one of the men shoved her aside. My mother came running from the kitchen, her voice rising in panic.
“Leave my daughter alone!” she shouted, stepping between me and the men.
The leader pulled out a gun. Everything froze. “Stay out of this, old lady,” he growled.
“Don’t you dare,” my mother spat back.
The crack of the gunshot echoed in the small house. My mother’s body crumpled to the ground, lifeless. A scream tore from my throat as I lunged toward her, but another man grabbed me, pinning my arms behind my back.
Jenny tried to fight them, but she was no match. A second gunshot rang out, and she fell too. Blood pooled around her.
“No! Please, stop!” I begged, tears streaming down my face. My body trembled with rage and grief, but I was powerless.
The men dragged me out of the house.
“You should’ve known better,” the leader hissed. Behind us, I heard the roar of flames. They had set the house on fire.