The air in the parking lot was thick with tension, the only sound the rapid pounding of Hanna’s heart. Mark’s sudden lunge toward Elordi was swift, filled with rage and determination. But before he could make contact, Finn was there—fast, stronger than Hanna had expected, his body intercepting Mark’s with a force that sent him stumbling back.
“That’s enough!” Finn’s voice rang out, fierce and commanding, his fists clenched at his sides.
Mark staggered but quickly regained his balance, his eyes flashing with pure fury. “You’re making a mistake,” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “You think you can stop me?”
Hanna stepped forward, her pulse racing as she stood between Finn and Mark. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “The only mistake here is yours. You underestimated me.”
Mark’s eyes narrowed, his chest rising and falling rapidly with frustration. He opened his mouth to retort, but before he could speak, Elordi’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, a smirk spreading across his face.
“Looks like the cavalry’s here,” Elordi said with a grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
The sound of sirens began to echo in the distance, growing louder and louder. The harsh wail of police cars, approaching fast, made Mark’s face twist with panic.
His composure, once so sure and dominating, cracked. Mark glanced around, his eyes darting from Elordi to Finn to Hanna, realizing that his options were rapidly running out. He took a slow step back, his gaze locked onto Hanna’s with a burning intensity that made her skin crawl.
“This isn’t over,” Mark growled, his voice low and dangerous, his fury not yet quenched. His fingers twitched as if he was calculating his next move, but his body language betrayed him—he was out of options.
Hanna’s breath steadied, her confidence growing. She straightened her back and met his gaze with a cold, unwavering stare. “Oh, it is,” she said, her voice ice-cold. “You just don’t know it yet.”
For a moment, time seemed to stretch between them. Mark glared at her, but the reality of the situation was clear. His twisted games were unraveling, and there was no way for him to escape the consequences this time.
The sirens were closer now, and Mark seemed to finally register that the game was up. With one last sneer, he turned and bolted for the parking lot’s exit, his footsteps echoing into the night.
Hanna exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her legs shaking with the release of tension. She glanced at Elordi, who was already pocketing his phone, his smirk never leaving his face.
“That was too close,” she murmured, still trying to steady her racing heart.
“You’re welcome,” Elordi said with a nonchalant shrug, though his eyes sparkled with something darker—something that reminded Hanna that this wasn’t over.
Finn stepped closer, his hand gently gripping her arm as he led her away from the scene. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft but filled with concern.
Hanna nodded, her chest tight, but she felt the weight of his support, grounding her. “I’m fine. But it’s not over yet.”
Finn’s gaze softened as he squeezed her hand. “We’ll face it together.”
Hanna’s heart swelled as she glanced at Elordi, who was already walking toward his car. She didn’t know if she could fully trust him, but for now, he had helped her win this battle. And that was enough.
As they headed toward the exit, the distant sound of the police sirens growing quieter, Hanna couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.
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