Leila’s pulse skyrocketed as she faced the dark figures approaching her. Panic clawed at her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm. Ethan was barely clinging to life, and now, these men were closing in with deadly intent. The wail of sirens was growing louder, but help still seemed impossibly far away.
She had seconds to decide. Fight or flee.
Her eyes darted to the rooftop door, the only escape route—but she couldn’t leave Ethan behind, not like this. And there was no guarantee she’d make it out alive if she stayed.
One of the men stepped forward, his face obscured by the hood he wore, but his posture radiated menace. His voice was low and taunting. “You thought you could get away, didn’t you?”
Leila swallowed hard, her mind racing. She had no weapon, no plan. She only had her sh
