The leader of the men in black stepped forward, his glass mask shining weirdly under the hospital lobby lights. He looked more like a monster from some nightmare movie than a real person. He didn’t bother glancing at the police or the nurses cowering behind the desks. All his attention locked onto the yellow paper in Maya’s hand.
“Three seconds,” he growled, voice deep and rough. “Hand over the map, or the boy dies first.”
He aimed his heavy weapon straight at Leo. The little boy just lay there, asleep in his hospital bed, clueless about the danger closing in. Julian’s face went from pale to furious in a blink. He jumped in front of his brother, trying to look brave, but his hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
Maya’s heart pounded so hard she thought her ribs might c***k. Her leg—stuck in that
