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.

Herman. “You don’t think this has anything

Leandro could respond, Seraphina suddenly coughed

side in an instant, helping her sit up and gently patting

few more coughs, and she

whispering, “Don’t be scared. You are safe

then frantically touched her face and body, taking deep breaths to reassure herself

eyes began to well with tears. Then, abruptly, she

of me that easily. I haven’t given

burying herself deeper into his embrace and inhaling

slipped out of the room, while Herman stood dumbfounded at the foot of

his throat, “Are you coherent enough to

slightly at

Seraphina

“Can you recognize

Leandro away slightly and looked towards Herman standing at the end of the

him away?”

“Please do,” agreed Seraphina.

stern look from

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

some street-level goons,” Herman admitted. “They took

promised them a billion and myself, and they still went after