“I should trust you in what way?” Angela responded, raising up her hands and wiping her own tears with her hand. “How do you want me to trust you with this? Tell me, Ethan, because I don’t know how to hand my heart over while you’re walking straight into danger. How do you want me to stand still and

Angela clung to him, her forehead pressed against his chest. “Please, Ethan. Please. Don’t walk out that door and leave me standing here like this. Every part of me is screaming that something terrible is waiting for you out there. I can’t breathe just thinking about it. Please don’t push me away an

Angela’s eyes widened in disbelief. “So you’ll just walk into a trap blind? For her? What if you’re walking into your own death?” Angela’s voice cracked as the words spilled out, her eyes searching him for some flicker of hesitation, some sign that he’d reconsider. “You’re not even giving yourself

“It’s not about numbers. It’s about leverage,” he said quietly, his voice steady but carrying the weight of hard-earned experience. “This isn’t a street fight where more people mean more strength. In Raymond’s world, bringing you with me doesn’t double my chances — it doubles his power over me. The

She shook her head violently, her grip on him tightening as if she could anchor him in place by sheer desperation. Her voice broke, trembling between fear and anger. “No! You don’t understand!” she cried, her tears streaking down her cheeks. “He wants to go alone because the kidnapper demanded it, b