“Quiet!” the man warns.
Elise shuts her mouth. Her eyes stay locked on Grant, hate so bright it looks reckless.
Grant straightens and looks at all of them. “Family is important, right?”
Naomi starts sobbing, “Please don’t do this.”
Grant ignores her. “I already took everyone they love.”
Travis’s face tightens. Ryan’s eyes go wider. Elise’s throat works as if she is trying to swallow something that won’t go down.
Grant’s tone stays even. “Except for you four.”
Travis’s head lifts a fraction. His voice comes out rough. “They’re just kids.”
Grant stares at him for a moment. “I don’t give a fuck.”
Naomi shakes her head hard. Tears run down her face anyway. She keeps wiping them with her shoulder because her hands can’t move.
Grant takes one step back, then points his gun toward Naomi. Then he shifts it toward Elise and Ryan.
“You,” he says to Travis. “Or them.”
Ryan’s breath starts coming fast. Naomi leans closer to him. Elise’s chin lifts again. Her mouth trembles. Travis’s shoulders shake once. He forces them still.
Grant lifts his free hand and points at Travis’s chest. “Decide.”
Travis looks at the kids.
Ryan’s eyes are fixed on him. He doesn’t speak.
Elise’s face is tight with fury and fear, both fighting for space. She shakes her head once.
Travis’s mouth opens. It closes again. His eyes squeeze shut for one beat, then open, glassy and raw.
“Grant,” Travis says. His voice cracks on the name. “If you want to hurt Brooke, do it to me.”
Grant laughs, like he has been waiting for that line.
“Oh, I will,” he says. “Don’t get it twisted. You’re all dying. This is only about order.”
Naomi makes a small sound that turns into a sob. The gun at her head doesn’t move.
“Me,” Travis says. The word scrapes out of him. “Take me.”
Grant’s expression shifts with interest. He looks entertained.
“Wow,” Grant chuckles. “You think that’s noble?”
He steps closer, “It isn’t.”
Travis’s breathing turns ragged. “Please.”
Grant’s voice drops. “You’re picking yourself because you don’t want to watch. You’re trying to escape what I’m going to do to them.”
Naomi’s sobbing gets louder. Ryan starts crying. Elise’s shoulders shake hard.
Grant straightens again. “That’s not as heroic as you think.”
