The laughter died as quickly as it had started, replaced by the shrill cries of panic. Brad’s phone slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the icy dock, forgotten in the chaos. Kyle and Justin froze, their expressions a twisted mix of fear and confusion.
Marcus, my brother, stepped out of the lead SUV, his presence a storm brewing on the icy landscape. He was a man of few words, but those he spoke were laced with authority. “Everyone down,” he commanded, his voice slicing through the panic like a blade. The red dots danced across the Harrison family, pinning them in place as if by invisible chains.
I cradled Mia’s head in my lap, whispering to her as she slowly came to life, her breath rattling against the icy air. Her eyes, wide and panicked, began to focus, finding solace in the familiar sound of her uncle’s voice. “You’re safe, darling. You’re safe,” I murmured, though my heart still hammered with the echo of terror and rage.
