Leila’s heart raced as she left the hospital, her mind in a fog of fear and confusion. Marcus was out there, and she had no idea where or when he would strike.
The detective’s words echoed in her mind, but they offered little comfort. Increasing security? Being vigilant? None of it felt like enough. Marcus had outsmarted law enforcement before—he wouldn’t be caught easily.
Ethan was still in surgery, his life hanging by a thread, and she couldn’t even be by his side. Every second apart felt like torture. Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her spiraling thoughts.
“Leila, are you okay?” It was Sophie, her best friend and one of the few people who knew the full extent of the chaos.
“Not really,” Leila replied, her voice trembling. “Marcus escaped.”
There was silence on the other end of
