LAUREN'S POV

Tears were already streaming down my cheeks before I even realized it. My entire body trembled as I watched Ethan aim the gun at my daughter. My little girl. My heart pounded so hard it hurt, my throat burned, and my knees felt weak beneath me. I wanted to scream, to run toward her, to do something, but I couldn’t. There was nothing I could do, not when he had that gun pointed straight at Aria’s back.

“Please…” I whispered, my voice breaking as I tried to move, but the ...