CHAPTER 114

The tension in the safe house was palpable, the air thick with unspoken concerns and the gravity of the situation. Jessica had retreated to the small kitchen, busying herself with making a pot of coffee, but her mind was elsewhere. As the dark liquid filled the pot, she couldn’t shake the image of Phillip’s haunted expression from her mind. His story about his father had stirred something deep within her, a mix of empathy, anger, and a fierce determination to help him see this through to the end.

Phillip was in the living room, seated on the worn leather couch with his phone in hand, his focus entirely on the screen. Jessica knew he was reaching out to his contacts, setting the gears in motion for their next move. They didn’t have much time, and every moment counted. Lane was already a step ahead of them; they needed to close that gap before it was too late.

She poured the coffee into two mugs, the rich aroma filling the small space, and carried them into the living room. Phillip look