Page 118 of Undone

Gracie’s body shook, but she didn’t make a sound. “Daddy, I’m scared,” she whispered, barely audible.

“You’ll be okay,” I whispered back. I wanted to say more. I needed to say more, but I had to keep this narrative alive.

The tension built, thick as the air around us, and John coaxed, “Just step closer, and we can make it easy.”

But I didn’t care about making it easy. I cared about getting her safe.

I stepped within his reach, and John’s hand pushed Gracie aside as he pointed the gun directly at my temple, a sickening smile spreading across his face. She fled to Noah, sobbing.

And then, just like that, Gracie’s safety was no longer the focus.

For a fleeting moment, my body relaxed, grateful that my daughter was finally safe.

Even if I was the one in jeopardy now.

He turned back to Noah, his lips curling into a cruel, twisted grin. “You really thought I wouldn’t notice, huh?” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “That I wouldn’t find you hiding out in that pathetic little town? That I wouldn’t see you cozying up to him?” He spat the words, venom in his eyes. “You refused to ever travel with me, couldn’t even give me that time to help keep me in check, but then you move to that town for what? For him?”

Gracie clung to Noah, her tiny hands gripping her shirt. Noah wrapped her arms around her, holding her tightly as she whispered soothingly, “It’s okay. I’ve got you.” Her fragile frame trembled against Noah, and I could feel the desperation radiating from both of them.

John’s grin widened, and then his gaze locked onto Ellie, who stood beside us. His eyes narrowed, calculating his next move. He raised the gun, the cold barrel pointed at Ellie, and gestured with a tilt of his head.

“Let’s go,” he said, his tone thick with malice. “You’re coming with me. We’re going to take a little trip through the tunnels.”

As the words left his mouth, security yelled, “Stop right there, and drop your weapon now!”

Two guards, weapons raised, stood firm, waiting for the right moment to fire. The air was thick with tension, but John’s laugh cut through the silence.

“Oh, shut up, will ya?” he sneered, and without hesitation, he fired. The first shot rang out, quick and brutal, striking one of the guards. The second shot followed almost instantly, silencing the second.

“Move, now! Both of you,” John barked, the barrel of his gun shifting between Ellie and me as he shoved us forward.

Ellie’s eyes widened with fear, her words trembling as she protested. “You can’t do this!” But John’s grip never faltered, his control absolute.

“Get moving,” he ordered, his tone cold and final as he shoved us toward the entrance of the tunnel. “Or I swear, I’ll make this a lot worse for everyone.”

I felt a surge of helplessness and fury as Noah’s voice rang out, filled with defiance. “You won’t get away with this.”

John turned to catch her gaze, the cruel glint in his eyes sending a chill through me. “That’s exactly the point.”

With that, he dragged us into the dark shadows of the tunnel, his gun always trained on us, and his grip tight on both Ellie and me as we were swallowed by the darkness.

FORTY-FOUR

Noah - November

NO TIME TO DIE - BILLIE EILISH

Panic coursedthrough me as I paced the room, my heart pounding in time with the chaotic whispers of the unaware fans beyond the walls. Ellie’s security team quickly sprang into action the moment John disappeared, calling in reinforcements from the police. Apparently, being a superstar doesn’t guarantee a large armed security detail—only a couple were approved to be armed. Weapons were prohibited in the stadium, and the unarmed guards had to rely on their training and instincts.

We still didn’t understand how John made it through security with a weapon, but he had.

My mind kept replaying the scene—Gracie held at gunpoint, the expression of terror in her wide eyes. She was finally safe, but she still looked fragile, now sitting in Dotty’s lap. I could see the tremors in her small hands as she held onto Dotty.

I had held her for a minute, pulling her into my arms and shielding her from the horrors that had invaded our lives. Dotty eventually offered to take over, knowing I was trying to figure out what to do to get Dorian out of danger.

“We need to get her out of here,” Dotty’s voice brought me back to the present. “Trent and I can take her somewhere safe.”

A knot twisted in my stomach at the thought of letting her go, but I knew I wouldn’t leave without Dorian. “It’s for her safety,” she said, her tone firm yet understanding.

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