Time dragged in the panic room.

She didn’t know if it had been ten minutes or two hours. The screens showed nothing but grainy shadows. Whoever had been outside was either gone… or waiting.

Her nerves were frayed to the bone. She sat on the narrow bench with her arms around herself, trying not to shake. Dante hadn’t moved. He leaned against the wall like some unbothered statue, arms folded, head tilted down. Breathing steady. Waiting.

It drove her insane.

“How can you just stand ...