MasukKiara’s povThe first gunshot was so loud that it made me freeze instantly inside the car.The second gunshot sounded closer. My heart stopped.“Oh my God.”Alex grabbed the radio immediately. “Leo?”The shouting exploded faintly from inside the warehouse. My entire body went cold.“Leo?” Alex barked again.Another gunshot came through, and that was it. I snapped and reached for the door instantly.“Kiara—”“She’s in there!”I shoved the door open and jumped out before he could stop me.The cold night air hit my face hard as panic completely took over my body.More shouting echoed from inside the building.I could barely breathe.“Sophia Sophia Sophia.” I murmured, as I started running toward the warehouse entrance. But strong arms grabbed me roughly before I got far.“Kiara!”“Let me go!” I screamed, fighting against Alex immediately. “My daughter is in there!”“And there are bullets flying everywhere!”“I don’t care!”“Yes, you do!”Another gunshot echoed loudly. I flinched violently
Leo’s pov“We move now.”The words had barely left my mouth before everything inside me switched completely into focus. No fear. No hesitation.Alex opened the back of his car quickly, pulling out two black duffel bags.Kiara’s eyes widened slightly. “Why do you have those?”“Because unlike him,” Alex muttered, glancing at me briefly, “I actually prepare for chaos.”I ignored him and grabbed one of the bags immediately.Inside were flashlights, zip ties, gloves, radios and good weapons.Alex handed me an earpiece. “Comms stay on at all times.”I shoved it in quickly before checking the gun if it's loaded. I checked the warehouse again.Movement near the front. Less movement at the side.“That entrance,” I muttered.Alex followed my gaze immediately.“Blind spot?”“Mostly.”He nodded once.“I’ll stay outside and monitor movement.”I looked at him briefly.“If things go bad—”“They won’t.”I held his gaze for a second longer and nodded once.Because right now we didn’t have time for ego.
Kiara’s povIt was as though the night knew we were waiting, and it became so slow, that every second felt stretched.I sat inside Alex’s car with my arms wrapped tightly around myself while Leo stayed outside watching the warehouse from a distance.The industrial area looked even creepier now.Most of the buildings had gone dark except for a few security lights and passing trucks moving deeper into the district.The inside of the car was quiet except for the soft sound of the air conditioner and Alex occasionally checking his phone.I looked through the windshield again.Leo stood near the fence line several feet away, partially hidden in the shadows. One hand rested inside his jacket while his eyes stayed fixed on the warehouse like he was trying to see through the walls.He hadn’t relaxed once since we got here.Alex glanced at me briefly before speaking quietly. “You should drink some water.”“I’m not thirsty.”“You’ve said that many times already.”I didn’t answer, cause honestly
Leo’s povWhen we got to the warehouse, I kept my eyes ahead as I parked a safe distance away from the building Alex’s investigator had marked earlier. Large metal warehouses stretched across the industrial area. Trucks moved in and out occasionally. Workers. Security lights.I killed the engine slowly.Behind us, Alex parked his car too.Kiara immediately reached for the door handle.“Wait.” She looked at me quickly.“What?”I scanned the area one more time before answering. “We don’t move carelessly.”Her breathing was already uneven again. I could hear it.“I just want to see the place.”“And you will.”“Leo—”“But you’re not stepping out until I say so.”Her jaw tightened slightly, but this time she didn’t argue immediately.Alex stepped out of his car and walked toward us. The moment I got out too, the cold evening wind hit my face hard. I needed it, because I was really tense.Alex shut his car door quietly before looking toward the warehouse ahead.“That one?” he asked.I nodde
Kiara’s POVThe way Leo said it made the entire room go quiet for a second. Even Alex stopped talking.Leo grabbed his keys from the table and started heading for the door like the conversation was already over.My chest tightened immediately.“Wait.”He didn’t stop.“Leo.”This time he paused slightly but didn’t turn around.“We’re not just rushing into some warehouse blindly.”Now he looked back at me.“And what exactly do you suggest we do?” he asked. “Sit here and wait for another picture of Sophia crying?”That hit me hard. I swallowed quickly.Alex stepped in before I could answer. “Nobody said we should sit around. But we need a proper plan first.”“We already wasted enough time.”Leo’s voice stayed calm but I could hear the anger underneath it now. Barely controlled.Alex folded his arms. “What if they’re armed?”“We would stay vigilant.”“And if there are more people there than we expect?”Leo looked at him flatly. “Then we adapt.”I rubbed my forehead slowly because honestly
Leo’s pov“My investigator found something.”The moment Alex said those words, the entire atmosphere in the room shifted.Kiara straightened immediately beside me, her fingers tightening around the edge of the couch cushion. The tear stains on her face were still visible, but right now fear was winning over exhaustion again.“What did he find?” she asked quickly.Alex pulled his phone out and glanced at the screen before looking back up.“One of the traffic cameras caught the SUV about twelve minutes after it left you.”I stood still instantly. “Where?”“The Harbor Freeway heading toward Vernon.”My jaw tightened slightly. “That fast?”Alex nodded once. “But that’s not the interesting part.”I folded my arms slowly.“Continue.”“He said the SUV disappeared from traffic completely for almost seven minutes.”Kiara frowned. “What does that mean?”“It means,” I answered before Alex could, “they switched vehicles.”Her face drained instantly. “No…”Alex nodded grimly. “Most likely inside a
Leo’s POVI excused myself calmly, but the moment I stepped into the restroom, my smile vanished. I locked myself in there and dialed Vincent immediately.“Talk to me,” I said the second he picked up.“I was able to track the guy,” Vincent replied. His voice was low. “I’ve got his location too.”My
Leo’s POV“Miriam, breathe! Please, breathe.”My hands shook as I held her shoulders, gently at first, then harder when she didn’t respond immediately. “Stay with me. Miriam, please.”This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.We were arguing, something small that escalated the way things always did be
Chapter 58Kiara’s POVI was still shaking when the sirens finally went silent.The smell of burnt rubber hung thick in the air, mixing with dust and panic. My car sat mangled by the side of the road, the back crushed in so badly I could barely recognize it as mine.Every time I looked at it, my ch
Kiara’s POVAlex parked in my usual spot and turned off the engine. “Are you sure you’re ready?”“I’ve been ready for three days,” I replied.“That’s not the same thing.”I looked at him. “You promised. One week.”He sighed, defeated but watchful. “I’ll walk you in.”“I can manage.”“I know,” he sa







