Chapter 91

• Charlotte knelt on the cool marble floor of the bank, her heart thrumming like a wild bird trapped in a cage. The chaos around her echoed in her ears, blending with the rising cacophony of sirens. She felt a rush of adrenaline, and despite the fear gripping her gut, her mind began racing with thoughts of how to protect herself—and the people around her.
• As she scanned the room, Charlotte noticed how the other patrons were huddled together. The elderly man she helped was now crouched on the ground, his fingers trembling against the floor, eyes darting anxiously toward the masked robbers. The teenage girl, who couldn’t have been older than sixteen, was peeking out from behind the desk, tears streaming down her cheeks. Charlotte's heart ached for them. They were all just ordinary people caught in an extraordinary nightmare.
• But Charlotte’s thoughts quickly turned inward. She shook her head, trying to shake off the mounting panic. Stay focused. You can’t let fear take over, she reminded herself. Leo needed her; he needed his mother.