Chapter 39 Torn Threads

• Sofia’s breath caught in her throat, her pulse pounding so hard she felt dizzy. The world outside the SUV was chaos—sirens wailing, red and blue lights bleeding across the darkening streets, the voices of police officers barking orders.
• But amidst the noise, her father’s face stood out with painful clarity. Chief David Reyes. His eyes, dark and weary, were filled with a desperate fear she had never seen before. His mouth was set in a hard line, but the vulnerability behind it made her chest ache.
• "Sofia!" he called out again, his voice cracking.