Leo's hand trembled on the pistol, his mind racing.
Think, think, think.
He glanced at Rita, hoping for some kind of silent understanding, some plan. But she looked just as lost as he felt, her wide eyes darting between Simon and the gun in Leo's hand.
Simon's patience was clearly wearing thin. "Last chance," he said, his tone icy, every word laced with quiet menace. "Talk."
Rita's mind flashed back to the message. Trust no one. It had been her mantra, her lifeline in a world that had turned upside down.
But could she really keep quiet? Could she risk provoking Simon any further? Her hands shook as she wrestled with the decision, her heart pounding like a drumbeat in her chest.
Simon took another step forward, his presence looming over them like a stormcloud, and the tension snapped.
