Riley’s POV
My heart stopped.
There was a man standing by the playground, about fifty feet away. Partially hidden behind a tree, like he didn’t want to be seen.
But I saw him.
He was wearing a dark jacket, hands shoved in his pockets, and he was staring directly at us. At me.
Not the casual glance of a stranger admiring a family. Not the polite smile of another park-goer. This was different. Focused. Deliberate.
Like he was watching me specifically.
A chill ran down my spine.
“You okay?” Gerald asked, and I realized I’d gone completely still, Cynthia still in my arms.
“Yeah. Fine.” The words came out tight. “Just… thought I saw something.”
“Saw what?”
I glanced back toward the tree.
The man was gone.
I blinked, scanning the playground frantically. Families everywhere. Joggers.
