He forced the idea away at once. To dwell on shadows without proof would only break them further.

With sudden focus, his gaze locked on Ellis.

“Tell us—what’s our next step?”

The silence that followed pressed heavily. Nearly an entire day had passed, and Eric had yet to return.

“Mr. Flynn.” The name left Ellis’ mouth as he straightened, bracing against the weight of Ernest’s demand.

“I’ll press my superiors for approval at once and arrange for a citywide sweep.”

“When will that happen?” Ernest’s stare cut sharply, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

“Immediately,” Ellis replied, his voice clipped and certain.

“Good.” Ernest’s gaze slid to the pale light bleeding through the window.

“Your superiors haven’t arrived yet, have they?”

“They haven’t.” Ellis snatched his phone from the table and gave a subtle nod.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”

Catching the signal, Ernest guided Hadley toward the corridor without a word.

“Sit here.” He eased Hadley onto a narrow bench just as his phone began to vibrate.

Moving aside, Ernest shouted orders into the receiver, his tone sharp and quick, before rejoining her.

“Ernest.” Hadley’s voice was steadier now, her fingers knotted tightly together on her lap.

Although terror still lingered at the edges of her chest, she had managed to push the wild panic down where it no longer consumed her.

“You should go,” she said gently.

“I’ll be fine waiting here by myself.”

Ernest paused, unease tightening his brow.

é t?€я? ?n Ga?n?νεl?.

Leave Hadley behind while Eric’s fate was still unknown?

“Please.” Her voice was firm, though her tone carried logic.

“Staying together won’t change the outcome. You have duties to handle… I’ll call the second there’s an update.”

Reluctance lingered, but at last, he gave a slow nod.

“Okay.”

The looming Flynn–Scott launch demanded his presence, whether he liked it or not.

“I’ll arrange for Quentin to remain with you—”

“That won’t be necessary.” She cut him off with a firm shake of her head.

“You’ll need his speed and precision far more than I will, especially with Xander and Theodore already here.”

“Fine.” A faint gratitude flickered in his expression as he gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

“Promise me you’ll reach out the moment something happens.”

“I will.”

Once his figure disappeared down the hallway, Hadley stayed rooted to her seat, her eyes locked on Ellis’ office door.

The door finally swung open, and she stood up.

.

.

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