Like something building.
I drag a hand over my mouth, exhaling once through my nose, forcing my thoughts into something usable.
I look back toward Seraphina.
She’s laughing at something Logan said.
My chest tightens.
I can’t hide this from her.
I won’t.
“She needs to see it,” I say.
Chace nods once.
“There’s more.”
Of course there fucking is.
“There’s always more,” I mutter.
His jaw shifts slightly.
“Uncle Niko has not checked in.”
My head snaps back to him.
“What?”
“Last ping was twelve hours ago,” Chace says, voice even. “He sent a message to his crew before he dropped.”
“What message?”
Chace holds my gaze.
“‘I’m going in. Hold position. Do not follow.’”
Silence hits harder this time.
No contact since.
No updates.
No backup.
He walked in alone.
I look back toward the pool.
At my wife.
At the life we just confirmed.
At the future that suddenly feels like it’s standing in the crosshairs.
And everything collides.
