The moment before silence

Isabel’s POV

Alexander tries to get closer to me, weaving through the chaos, but each time he moves, the men lunge at him. He dodges their fists, blocks their strikes, but they keep coming. The fight doesn’t stop. He pushes one back, kicks another off his leg. He’s trying to get to me—but they won’t let him.

Then suddenly, Cynthia panics.

I feel her rushing presence before I see her. She grabs me roughly, dragging me up by the arm. Her arm wraps tight around my neck, and I freeze when I feel the cold press of metal against my head.

A gun.

“Take one more step,” Cynthia shouts, her voice sharp, cracking in fury, “and I swear I’ll pull the trigger!”

Alexander knocks the last of the men down with a brutal swing, sending him collapsing. He turns, breathing hard, blood on his knuckles, his face twisted with shock when he sees the gun aimed at me.

His hands slowly rise, eyes locked on Cynthia. “Don’t do this,” he says, his voice low, calming. “Cynthia, le