Even though Sakura had braced herself for the news, Takeshi's death felt like a physical blow, a dull ache that tightened with each breath.
Slowly, she rose, the sadness in her eyes gradually hardening into a fierce, burning vengeance. She looked at Charlie, her jaw clenched tight. "Charlie," she said, her voice low and strained, "did you catch Lucas? I want to avenge Takeshi myself."
Charlie sighed, shaking his head, the weight of his failure heavy on his shoulders. "No, he was gone when we arrived. Since you weren't there, we focused on finding you. He's cunning. He used you as bait to keep us off his trail. He got away, this time."
The news brought her to the brink of tears. Charlie quickly added, his voice softening, "But don't worry. I won't let him get away with this. After we fin
