Leila’s mind raced, her breath coming in short, shallow bursts as the dark figure drew closer. Every instinct screamed at her to run, to pull Sophie and bolt down the alleyway, but Eric’s grip on her hand was unyielding.
“Leila,” Sophie whispered, tugging at her arm. “We have to get out of here.”
But Leila couldn’t move. She was frozen between two impossible choices—trust the man who had abandoned her or gamble on a plan she didn’t understand. The figure coming toward them didn’t seem to be in a rush as if they knew their presence alone would send terror coursing through her veins.
Eric pulled her closer, his voice low and urgent. “If you run now, you’ll never outrun Marcus. You need me to survive this.”
Leila’s stomach twisted. Eric’s words rang with a terrifying certainty, but how co
