*Hadley*
The parking lot is a cold, unforgiving space where my impatience battles with the freezing night air. I'm pacing, my footsteps echoing off the concrete, each step a sharp jab of frustration aimed at the sluggish passage of time. JZ's voice, steady and understanding, breaks through my internal storm. "I get it, Hadley. I do. But diving headfirst into danger without a plan is not going to help Zayan. We need to be smart about this."
I'm about to retort, the words perched on the tip of my tongue, when the sound of an approaching vehicle cuts me off. It's the old pick-up, rugged and worn, pulling into the space beside us with a sense of urgency that mirrors the frantic beating of my heart. Marshall jumps out, his presence a solid reassurance. "I've got Zayan covered," he promises, a
