In a sleek black car idling at a traffic light, Lucian Sterling sat in the back seat, his attention glued to the report clenched in his hand.
His brow furrowed the deeper he read. His fingers tightened at the edge of the paper, crumpling it slightly, as though he might tear it apart at any moment.
The phone beside him buzzed.
Lucian's gaze flicked to the screen. Seeing the name flashing there, the tension in his shoulders eased—just a little.
He swiped the answer button and lifted the phone to his ear.
"Hello," he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Brandon's voice filtered through the speaker, calm and steady.
"Lucian?" he called, expectation evident in his tone.
For the first time since dropping Emily off earlier that morning, Lucian's rigid expression softened.
"I'm already on my way."
"That means… you were able to get it?" Brandon asked, worry creeping into his voice.
