Broken Charade

Discreet Lodging—Crest Outskirts, Midnight

Dante Thorne stood at the window of the simple suite he rented as a temporary operations base. His gaze pierced the city's darkness—not really seeing, just staring blankly while his mind spun analyzing every possibility, every scenario where his daughter could be.

Seven days. It had been five days since Leona disappeared from radar. Seven days without con