He entered the code, and the steel door of the panic room slid open.

The girls and I stepped out onto the carpet.

Emma held Lily’s hand, while Sophie clung to my sleeve.

“It’s over, Vanessa,” Nathan said quietly.

The playroom door was kicked completely open.

Four state troopers entered, their firearms raised, tactical lights cutting through the white chemical fog.

“Police!” one of them shouted.

“Get on the ground!”

Julian, still gasping for air on the floor, raised his hands immediately.

A trooper moved in quickly, kicking Julian’s fallen gun away and pinning his arms behind his back.

The metallic click of handcuffs echoed in the quiet room.

Another trooper approached Vanessa.

“Ma’am, step away from the window and put your hands on your head,” he ordered.

“I am the owner of this house!” Vanessa shrieked, her voice cracking.

“My husband is mentally unstable!”

“He’s holding us hostage!”

“We have the audio recording of the entire encounter, ma’am,” the trooper said.

“The emergency dispatch received the full feed.”

“Hands on your head.”

Vanessa glared at Nathan, her eyes filled with venom as the trooper secured her wrists with heavy zip-ties.