CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

　　It shocked everyone when he walked in elegantly with a big smile on his face like nothing had ever happened to him.

　　“It’s good to be back people, I miss the action,” he said.

　　“Steve!!!! How are you alive? I thought you were dead,” Esme asked. She touched him to confirm if she wasn’t speaking with a ghost.

　　“Nine more lives baby girl,” Steve smirked.

　　Damien was still in shock, he had heard the gunshot and presumed him to be dead all this while. “How are you alive? I heard the gunshot,” he asked.

　　Steve took time to explain all that happened that night to them, how the gunshot they heard wasn’t meant for him but for his attacker, and how he had been secretly tracking down the ladybird’s movement during his time of absence.

　　“I barely survived but I got lucky,” Steve said. “Listen, this isn’t the time to talk about myself. I know where Annie has been taken to, I’ve been tracking them for a while now. We leave for Columbia tonight.”