CHAPTER 24 - Noah Black #2
“You think you're so smart, Gavin, but I infiltrated every corner of your life and you didn't even notice,” Bryan says, ignoring the taunt, his gun still aimed at us.
He seems to know exactly what he's doing.
“Right now, I have all the information about the Primordial House, the videos you made at the sect and with Sadie, plus the name of every leader in this cesspool you're part of.”
I see Gavin tremble and wonder what the hell Bryan is talking about.
“What are you talking about?” Gavin demands, voicing my own question, his voice shaking with rage.
“Sadie's gone!” Sarah shouts, and when I look up at the top of the stairs, she's frantic. “She's gone, Gavin!”
My heart races with a mix of fear and hope.
I stare at Bryan and he smiles at me, his eyes shining.
I almost collapse when I realize he's the one who took her.
He managed to get her out of here.
“Where is she?” Gavin jams the gun against my head and I look away, shaking my head. “If you don't talk, I'm going to end you, you bitch!”
“Noah doesn't know, and right now the little one is far away from here, because while I was distracting you, someone got her out of the room.” Bryan says this and I choke on my own tears. “Now you're going to let Noah go and you and I will settle this.”
“Are you stupid enough to think it'll be that easy?” He smiles, and from the corner of my eye I see Sarah raise her gun toward Bryan.
Time seems to slow down.
My eyes widen.
My entire body is consumed by fear.
I whip my head around.
“Bryan, watch out!” I scream, my throat raw as the words tear out.
I clap my hand over my mouth the instant I hear the shot.
Bryan staggers backward, dropping his gun as he clutches his wounded shoulder.
I thrash against Gavin's grip, trying to break free, but he doesn't loosen his hold and pistol-whips me, making me go still.
A second shot rings out, and when I look up, I see Lauren with the gun raised and Sarah tumbling down the stairs.
It's like a horror show right in front of me.
“What the fuck did you do?” Gavin shouts at Lauren. “One more fucking move and I'll end Noah without thinking twice,” he threatens, and I know he's not bluffing.
Bryan stares at me, dazed, still trying to stop the bleeding.
The fear of losing him overwhelms me, and he seems to read it in my eyes.
“I've taken worse hits, don't worry,” he says, and Gavin pulls me backward. “What kind of pathetic man are you, really? Using a woman as a shield,” he taunts, spitting the words with contempt.
“Soon I'll use her as target practice.” I shudder at his smug tone. “And I'll make sure to record it for you to watch before you die, but first you're going to hand Sadie over to me.”
I smile through my tears when I hear the name.
Bryan saved our little girl.
He managed to get her out of here.
And whatever happens next doesn't matter anymore because she's safe.
“Bryan…” I call out, and he stares at me, chest heaving. “Take our girl far away from here.” The words come out and don't feel like mine—I'd forgotten the sound of my own voice after so long in silence.
He seems to freeze when he hears me, and I try to control my sobbing long enough to say the words that will change everything.
“Leave me here, but disappear with her,” I stammer, my throat dry, tears streaming down my face. “Get our daughter out of this prison, Bryan, and don't ever let her come back.”
“Shut your mouth!!” Sarah screams, getting up, but her voice fades away as the world around me seems to stop.
Bryan stares at me, his eyes widening as my words sink in.
He takes a step back, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
I watch shock wash over his face, and for a moment, the man who was unshakeable even with a bullet lodged in his body looks completely lost.
I wanted to tell him differently.
I'd planned to tell him once he got us out of here.
So he could disappear with her knowing she's our daughter.
“Sadie…” he begins, choking on his own words, and Gavin yanks me away with hatred in his grip.
“Yes… She's our little girl!” I confirm through my tears, before Gavin drags me down the hallway.
He releases my neck but shoves me forward roughly.
“You're going to regret this!” he threatens, and I see Sarah stagger toward us. “We're getting out of here.” He pulls me toward the office.
I stumble inside, and once he and Sarah are through the door, he locks it.
I stare at him in fear, realizing this is my end.
“I'm going to give you the worst death imaginable, but before that happens, I'll make you bring Sadie to me.”
“It's over for you, Gavin, and I will never… I will never help you!” I scream, and he grabs my arm, squeezing hard.
I let out a wild laugh.
I've dreamed of the day he'd have no more power over Sadie, and that day has finally come.
“You're already helping me just by being with me, you imbecile.” He releases me, and I feel the sting of his slap across my cheek.
“Because that piece of trash is stupid enough to fall into my traps.
He thinks he'll save you, but besides handing Sadie over to me, he'll watch you die.” Another slap lands, and my face snaps to the side from the impact.
“You're no match for him. Not this Bryan,” I mock, rubbing my burning skin as he walks to the shelf. “And you can do whatever you want, but Sadie will never be your daughter. NEVER!” I shout with hatred the instant he reaches into the gap on the shelf where he just removed a book.
As he steps away, my mouth falls open in surprise—one of the shelves is a false door.
“Sadie is ours, not his, not yours!” Sarah screams with a sick smile, pressing her ribs where Lauren's shot probably hit.
“And I'm going to bring her back. Now get in,” Gavin orders, already pushing me, and I stumble into the space.
The moment we're inside, he presses a button and the door closes again.
I shudder as the narrow tunnel goes dark, but soon a beam of light appears—Gavin's phone.
“Change of plans. I want you at the end of the tunnel,” he orders, bringing the phone to his ear. “If I were you, I'd start walking, or I'll make you,” he threatens, and I do what he says.
The tunnel is long, and we turn three more times before finally reaching a staircase that leads to an open window.
He pushes me, and reluctantly, I climb.
The moment my eyes hit the light, two men yank me out of the tunnel.
Sarah comes out right after, and a woman from the car up ahead rushes over to support her.
I don't see Gavin come out because something presses against my face, and before everything goes dark, I realize we're in the woods behind the mansion.