A Series Of New Steps

Ezra's heart sank as he pieced together the sequence of events.

Whoever had attacked the Blackthornes had done so with a kind of brutal efficiency, leaving no trace of their current whereabouts.

The signs pointed to a coordinated assault, one that had been planned meticulously.

He moved quickly, exiting the warehouse and heading back through the shadows towards his mansion.

As he neared the house, he moved with caution, ensuring he wasn't being followed. He slipped through a side entrance and made his way to the secure room where he found Gen and Olivia waiting.

They looked up as he entered, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.

"What are you guys doing here?" Ezra hissed. "Who's watching Natalia?"

"Red." Olivia answered, her voice tense. She studied his face quietly before asking. "What happened?"

"We can't talk here." Ezra said, his voice low. "It's too risky. We need to go somewhere quiet."