*ADELINE*
I could feel the tension in the air like a thunderstorm about to burst. My heart raced furiously in my chest, echoed by the pounding in my ears. The gun pressed hard against my back, a cold reminder of how perilous our situation had become, and I swallowed back the rising tide of panic that threatened to engulf me. Jesse's voice sliced through the haze, sharp and demanding as she issued her ultimatum.
"Let Orlando go, or I swear I will put a bullet in her," she growled, the malice in her voice shooting chills down my spine.
My eyes darted toward Vincenzo, desperation clawing at me. His gaze flitted between Jesse and me, confusion shadowing his fierce determination. I could see the cogs in his mind turning—the grim reality of the moment clawing at the edges of his resolve. I f
