Lara caught the man's wrist with an unbelievable speed, her grip tightening like an iron vice. The man howled in pain as the knife clattered to the ground. His breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes wide with panic.
The boy darted forward, scooping up the weapon and quickly handing it to Lara. But in that fleeting moment of distraction, the man seized his chance—bolting into the crowd, his figure disappearing into a narrow alley.
Lara let him go. Chasing him would only invite more trouble. It was already getting late.
She looked at the two children with guilty eyes. She thought they betrayed her, but she was wrong.
With a steadying breath, she refocused on her task. She bought ten kilos of rice and wheat, a dozen eggs, and two loaves of bread. The market stalls were clustered close together, making her errands swift.
