“There he is!” The man cut him off, shouting back at the rest of the group. He signaled with a quick wave of his arm. “Don’t just stand there, guys! Grab him!”

“We’re on it!”

“Wait, who the hell are you people?” Zane’s eyes darted around as panic began to rise in his chest. He bolted without waiting for an answer.

“Think you’ll outrun us? You’re not going anywhere!” one of them yelled.

“Freeze!”

Ignoring their threats, Zane ran, fumbling for his phone. His fingers moved quickly as he tried to dial Hadley. She had just driven off, and he was alone. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

The phone picked up almost instantly. “Well, hey there, Zane…”

Zane’s voice was frantic as he raced down the street. “Hadley, I need your help right now! Please, come back for me!”

“Wait, what’s going on? I’m coming back! Just hold on!” Hadley’s voice was filled with concern as she ended the call, not wasting a second. She turned to Tamara. “We have to turn the car around!”

“Why? Did something happen?” Tamara asked, her tone still confused but filled with urgency.

“I honestly don’t know. We need to check on Zane first.”

Hadley could hear the panic in Zane’s voice, and it was clear he needed them right away.

“Okay, got it!” Tamara spun the steering wheel and sped back the way they came. “Hold on tight!”

Hadley gripped the dashboard as worry surged through her. The fear of arriving too late tightened her chest, even though only sixty seconds had passed since Zane’s call.

Tamara glanced ahead. “Look over there! Isn’t that Mr. Hayes?”

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Hadley leaned forward, straining to get a better view. Up ahead, Zane was sprinting down the pavement, with a mob hot on his heels.

Why was he running from them? Had he crossed paths with dangerous people?

“Step on it!” Hadley urged, her voice tight with anxiety.

“I’m on it!” Tamara responded, accelerating.

But then, everything shifted.

Zane, still running, spotted Hadley’s car coming toward him. Rescue was within reach—just a heartbeat away.

Without warning, something slammed into the back of Zane’s leg.

“Ah!” Zane cried out, his body pitching forward as he lost his balance. He hit the pavement with a violent thud, the impact reverberating through his entire body.

Pain radiated from the jarring fall.

“Ugh!” Zane groaned through clenched teeth, struggling to push himself up with one trembling arm.

“Thought you could run?” one of the attackers chuckled darkly.

In seconds, the group had surrounded him. Hands pressed down on his shoulders, forcing him flat against the pavement.

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