Eliza looked at their joined hands, feeling a warmth spread through her. It was a small gesture, but it meant a lot to her, especially in a place where she still felt like an outsider. Before she could say anything else, Alexei cleared his throat from the doorway, reminding them of his presence.
"I'm going to check with the others, make sure everything is in order," Alexei said, his voice carrying a note of formality. Vaughn nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes never leaving Eliza's.
"Okay," Vaughn said simply. He didn't need to give Alexei any further instructions; they had worked together long enough to know what needed to be done.
As Alexei left the room, closing the door quietly behind him, Vaughn turned his full attention back to Eliza. His expression grew more serious as he spoke, "I've got Caleb Winslow's location. We're heading there in half an hour."
