The house settles into a strange quiet after the calls are made.
About twenty minutes later, headlights sweep across the front windows.
Kai glances toward the door. “That’ll be him.”
Alex opens it and Ryker steps inside, duffel bag over one shoulder. Same composed posture, same steady eyes that take in the room once before stopping on Alex.
“You called.”
“Plans changed,” Alex says. “You’re inside rotation now.”
Ryker nods once.
His gaze passes over all of us — briefly over me — then Alex gestures toward the stairs.
“Spare room upstairs. End of the hall.”
Ryker heads up without another word.
We listen to his footsteps overhead. A door opens, and then closes.
Francesco huffs softly. “Well… at least he won’t be loud.”
Enzo smirks. “I’ve heard him say maybe twenty words total.”
M
