18. Elle
The door to the shop was locked, the blind was pulled down on the side window and my sister called me Mrs Cunningham. Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Racing to the window that didn’t have a blind, I pressed my face against the glass my hands cupped around my eyes and looked in.
Seeing my mother standing strangley by the counter, I saw that she had an expression on her face that I only saw from her once.
It was terror. The very same look she had when Gisele gave birth to Miracle seventeen weeks too early.
Squinting against the howling wind I shifted my position trying to find my sisters, when Claudia locked the door on me, she pulled the blind down too fast for me to get a look at what was going on inside.
My stomach churned as I frantically looked for any sign of Gisele or Claudia then finally, I caught sight of my baby sister, there were tears streaming down her cheeks, her eyes held the same terror as our mother’s.
“Look at me Gissy, tell me what’s going on in there,” I said quietly, willing her to hear me. Our bond was that close, I knew if I tried hard enough Gisele would feel me outside watching.
Not more than ten seconds went by, when Gisele’s blue eyes met mine, at the same time a large man stepped into view, almost blocking Gisele with his massive size. Gisele moved one hand to her leg, her fingers signing against her thigh.
Two men two guns.
My whole body went cold, freezing me on the spot.
Jesus Christ no.