Leila’s body stiffened as the figure stepped further into the clearing, the moonlight illuminating their silhouette. Her heart pounded as her mind raced through a dozen possibilities. Was it Ethan? Or had Marcus’s men finally caught up to them?
Daniel aimed his gun, ready to shoot at a moment's notice. Lily grabbed Leila’s arm, her grip tight with fear, her breathing shallow.
The figure stepped closer, the shadows peeling away to reveal a familiar face.
It was Ethan.
Relief flooded through Leila, her knees nearly giving out as she rushed toward him. He looked bruised, his shirt torn and smeared with dirt and blood, but he was alive. He had made it.
"Ethan!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms. The warmth of his body against hers was the only confirmation she needed. He was here,
