Then—
The warehouse doors exploded inward with a deafening crash.
Wood splintered. Metal screeched.
Cold night air rushed inside like a storm.
"Drop it!"
"Hands up!"
"Don't move!"
Shouts overlapped. Boots thundered across concrete. Flashlights sliced through the darkness, beams blinding and sharp.
The man flinched on instinct.
The gun jerked upward toward the ceiling.
Before he could react again, three men slammed into him at once. His arm twisted. The weapon clattered across the floor. Another officer kicked it away.
Metal cuffs snapped shut around his wrists.
Fast. Efficient. Final.
"What—?!" Clara choked out, her voice breaking.
Her brain lagged behind what her eyes were seeing.
It didn't feel real.
A second ago she was about to die.
Now—
"Nathaniel!"
He was already running.
She barely saw him at first, just a blur pushing past everyone else like nothing could stop him.
Then he dropped to his knees in front of her.
"Clara. Clara. I'm here."
