Devin stood on the sidewalk, staring at the screen of his tracker. The little blinking dot wasn't moving anymore.
"They're here," he said, looking up at the old apartment building in front of them.
Jonal rubbed the back of his neck. "You sure? Looks kinda run-down."
Devin nodded. "It's them. I set the tracker on Penny's phone before she left the safe house. I knew something was off."
Just then, the front gate creaked open, and an old lady stepped out with a red grocery bag in her hands. She paused when she saw them, eyes narrowing a bit.
Devin gave a polite smile and stepped forward. "Hi, sorry to bother you. Do you know anyone named Penny or Elena who lives here?"
The woman frowned, then said in Chinese, "对不起,我不会说英语." (Sorry, I don't speak English.)
She gave them a tiny nod and walked past, heading down the street.
Jonal let out a breath. "Cool. That was a dead end. Can we go now?"
Devin shook his head. "No. She understood me. She just didn't want to talk."
"Oh come on—"
"I'm going up," Devin said, already moving toward the steps.
Jonal groaned. "Bro, seriously....
." but he followed anyway, dragging his feet.
They climbed up to the second floor. Devin paused in the hallway, looking at the tracker again. He was standing right in front of a door. He took a breath and knocked, two times.
Inside, Elena was walking toward the door holding a towel in her hand, drying her hair. "Hold on Nate?" she called out casually as she unlocked it and opened it wide.
"Devin?.... Jonal"?
The towel dropped from her hand.
Her eyes went wide. For a second, nobody said anything. Then, without thinking, Elena slammed the door shut with a gasp.
From inside, Penny looked up from the kitchen. "What happened?"
Elena didn't answer right away. She just stared at the door, breathing hard. Then she reached out, slowly opened it again, and stepped out.
Devin was still standing there, eyes locked on her. His voice was low, but full of shock. "Elena…"
She blinked, still trying to process. "How did you find us?"
"Can we come in"? Devin asked
Jonal stood back, arms crossed, looking like he had a million questions too but for now, he stayed quiet.
Elena didn't know what to say. Part of her wanted to cry. Part of her wanted to run. But instead, she opened the door wider.
Sorry come in."
Elena stepped aside slowly, letting the door swing open. Devin walked in first, quiet as ever, his eyes scanning the room like he was taking in every detail, not just of the place, but of her. Jonal followed behind, less quiet, rubbing the back of his neck.
Penny looked up from the kitchen, a spoon in one hand and a faint look of surprise on her face. "Jonal?"
Jonal's whole expression softened when he saw her. He walked straight over, not even saying a word, and wrapped his arms around her. Penny let the spoon clatter into the sink as she hugged him back, her face burying into his chest. It had only been a few weeks, but it felt like forever.
"You found us," she whispered.
Jonal pulled back slightly and looked down at her stomach. "I had to. I couldn't miss this," he said quietly, hand settling gently over her belly.
Penny blinked up at him, tears welling. "It's been hard… hiding. I was so scared, Jonal. About everything."
He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I understand baby"
Across the room, Elena stood awkwardly near the couch, arms folded over her chest. Devin hadn't said a word since stepping inside. But he was looking at her. Not just looking but watching. Reading her, like he always did.
"You're not gonna yell at me?" Penny asked
Jonal tilted his head slightly, voice low. "Would it change anything?"
She opened her mouth to answer, then shut it again.
"I didn't leave to hurt you," she said after a moment. "I left to stay alive for our baby."
Jonal nodded, like he understood even more than she was saying.
Penny let out a soft breath staring at him. "You were angry. I get it."
"I wasn't angry," he said quietly. "I was… confused and scared..... for you and for our baby"
Elena stood off to the side, glancing between them, then looked at Devin. He hadn't moved far from the door, his hands was in his pockets, just… watching.
She didn't speak, she didn't need to.
She caught his eyes...steady, unreadable and tilted her head slightly toward the hallway. A silent message.
Come with me. Give them space.
Devin held her gaze for half a second longer, then gave a quiet nod and followed her without a word.
As they disappeared down the hall into Elena's room, Elena slowly sat on the bed while Devin stood by the door but suddenly stepped closer, just one slow step. He didn't touch her...he never made the first move but there was something heavy in the space between them now.
"I never forgot," he said. "What happened at the bar." he continued
"I shouldn't have taken advantage of your drunk state.... I should have controlled myself