The police had moved quickly the moment Steven handed over the threats. Units had been dispatched. Names had been barked into radios. Leah Ashbrook, his mother, had become an official target. Chief Claude had promised action in a tone that tried to sound confident and came out strained instead.
Then the cars had left with lights flashing into the night.
And now the abandoned tower was quiet again.
Too quiet.
No sirens. No officers. Just weeds, rust, chains, and the cold air scraping across Ryan’s skin like punishment.
Tevin stood a few steps away, arms folded, jaw tight. Maxwell was closer, silent and still, eyes scanning the perimeter even though the police were gone, because Maxwell looked like the type of man who never assumed danger had left simply because authority did.
Steven p
