The sound of the gunshot echoed in Anna's mind, loud and unrelenting, even as everything else blurred around her. Her ears rang, her vision dimmed, and for a moment, she thought she was the one who had been hit. She felt nothing but Jaden's grip on her arm, his hand strong and unyielding as he yanked her and Lilly behind an overturned table.
"Stay down!" Jaden barked, his voice cutting through the ringing in her ears. His body moved instinctively, placing himself between Anna and the source of danger. She blinked rapidly, her mind struggling to catch up with the chaos erupting around her.
Lilly was sobbing against Anna's chest, her tiny hands clutching at her sister's dress. Anna held her close, her arms trembling but firm. “It’s okay, Lilly,” she whispered, though her voice cracked. “I’
