"She's up there right now," Ella said, voice already breaking apart at the edges. "We need to?—"
"I go first," I said with absolute, non-negotiable firmness. "For your safety and hers. This isn't a discussion."
Her eyes were wild with fear and frustration and desperate protective instinct. The overwhelming need to move, to act, to fix this immediately was written clearly across every tense line of her beautiful face.
I could only imagine what horrific scenarios were playing out in her mind right now.
Every possible worst-case outcome probably running on endless loop.
But I knew with tactical certainty that time was critically, desperately precious here.
If there was actually a dangerous man in Rose's apartment with Sabine right now, decisive violent action needed to come fast and hard.
Hesitation could easily cost lives.
Especially small, innocent ones who deserved protection.
We climbed the stairs as quickly as silence and tactical caution allowed, my body automatically shifting into full combat operational mode.
Weight balanced precisely forward on the balls of my feet. Gun held ready in proper two-handed firing position. Eyes continuously scanning in systematic patterns—corners and doorways and shadows and potential threat positions.
Every sense heightened to maximum awareness.
When we finally reached Rose's floor, Ella fumbled desperately for her keys with badly shaking hands.
Took her three frustrating tries to get them out of her coat pocket.
She handed them to me without a word.
I approached the apartment door with extreme caution, every operational sense heightened to combat levels, listening intently for any sound from inside.
Nothing except the relentless pounding of rain against the building exterior.
No voices. No movement.
"Stay back," I told Ella quietly but with unmistakable firmness.
She nodded once, face deathly pale in the dim hallway light.
I tested the doorknob first with careful, minimal pressure.
Locked.
Good sign. Meant no one had violently forced entry or left it carelessly open during a panicked exit.
I inserted the key slowly to minimize any noise, turned it with one smooth practiced motion, and pushed the door carefully inward while simultaneously bringing my gun up in a fluid tactical sweep.
Living room completely empty.
But there were wet spots clearly visible on the hardwood floor. Distinct footprints.
Someone had definitely walked in here before us.
The visible trail led directly toward the closed bedroom door.
My pulse kicked noticeably higher, adrenaline sharpening everything.
I moved carefully across the apartment with deliberate, trained precision.
