Chase POV:
I took Ash into my arms, lifting him onto my shoulder as I felt the weight of what was coming—though I couldn't yet fully explain it to either of them. Ash, bless his little heart, was completely oblivious to the growing danger, his laughter still light as he swung his legs, kicking his feet in the air.
Leila, however, was a different story. I could feel her tension, the way her body stiffened with each passing second, her sharp eyes scanning the room as if the threat could be lurking behind any corner. I didn't need to ask—she had felt it too. Whatever was coming wasn't a coincidence. It was an attack. Or at the very least, a message.