Leila’s heart pounded in her ears, drowning out the sound of the approaching vehicles. Reinforcements. But whose side were they on? She couldn’t afford to assume they were here to help. Not with Ethan bleeding out beside her, and Marcus standing over them like a vulture, savoring their downfall.
She pressed her hands harder against Ethan’s wound, feeling the warm blood seep through her fingers. His breathing was shallow, and ragged, his face pale as death. “Stay with me, Ethan. Please, don’t leave me,” she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.
Ethan’s eyes fluttered open, his gaze locking onto hers for a brief, agonizing moment. “Leila...” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. “Run...”
Leila’s chest tightened. Run? How could she possibly leave him like this? But before she coul
