Tangled in His Obsession (Seraphina)

As Herman raced from the precinct to the hospital, Seraphina was still unconscious.

Leandro sat solemnly by her bedside, his eyes dark and stormy beneath their calm surface.

Bursting into the hospital room, Herman glanced at Seraphina’s prone form and asked urgently, “What did the doctors say? Is she out of danger?”

Leandro simply nodded, then lifted his gaze to Herman. “What’s the situation on your end?”

“The ringleader’s clammed up, but the other two gave in,” Herman murmured. “They ratted out a thug we’re currently hunting down.”

Before Herman could continue, Keen burst through the door, looking rushed. “Mr. Reynolds, someone tried to set fire in the alley behind Carney Artful Reverie.”

Leandro’s focus sharpened immediately.

“Luckily, it was caught early. The fire didn’t spread, and it’s been extinguished,” Keen reported quietly. “No significant damage.”

“Did you catch the arsonist?” Herman interjected.

Keen nodded, “Got ’em—just a couple of punks.”

Herman, looking back at Seraphina, said slowly, “The timing of these incidents, both linked to street thugs, suggests they might have been orchestrated by the same person. Leandro, has Seraphina crossed anyone lately?”

Leandro’s gaze lingered on Seraphina’s pale, still face, and he spoke quietly, “You might not find who’s behind this. But I have my suspicions.”

Understanding the implication, Herman frowned. The real puppet masters were always shrouded in mystery, beyond the reach of the law, like a crime syndicate they had busted where the trail went cold at Naylor, the underboss.

has

respond,

at her side in an instant, helping her

eyes fluttered open after a few more coughs, and she looked around blearily before settling

held her close, whispering, “Don’t be scared.

words seemed to trigger her memory. She winced in pain, then frantically touched her face and

to well with

continuing to comfort her. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I haven’t given you permission

Seraphina let out a soft laugh, burying herself deeper into his embrace and inhaling

of the room, while Herman stood dumbfounded at the

throat, “Are you coherent enough to give a

tensed slightly

talking?” Seraphina feigned

replied, “Can you recognize

and looked towards Herman standing at the

I send him away?”

“Please do,” agreed Seraphina.

a stern look from Leandro, who

Seraphina finally addressed the matter at hand. “Alright, who tried to take

admitted. “They took a million bucks to end your

I promised them a billion and myself, and they still