Manny returned to the hospital with a clarity that rattled him. Vale wasn’t searching for the girl to reclaim her; he was hunting her to silence the only witness to his crimes. The realization bore into Manny’s chest like ice. He knew now that protecting her was urgent.
Manny requested extra security for the girl, but without formal charges, protocol tied everyone’s hands. Guards could watch entrances, nothing more. The limitations gnawed at him. He knew Vale wasn’t finished. Rules felt painfully thin compared to the threat stalking the hospital halls, waiting for the smallest opportunity to strike.