The recording of Betty's laughter continued to loop in the otherwise silent room, a mocking echo that turned my blood to ice. With trembling fingers, I crushed the device beneath my heel, silencing the threat but not the fear it had planted deep in my chest.
My phone rang—Kade. I took a deep breath, composing myself before answering.
"Where exactly are you?" My voice was steel, betraying none of the terror coursing through my veins.
"Northern Meadow Park," Kade replied, seemingly oblivious to my tone. "Betty wanted ice cream. We have two security guards with us."
"Stay there. I'm coming to get her." I ended the call before he could respond, my heart still pounding against my ribs.
As I drove, my mind raced through possibilities. The corporate sabotage, the threatening package, the lis
