The hospital's cold, clinical atmosphere felt like a cage, locking us in a place of helplessness. Lucas was in surgery, and every second that ticked by without news felt like a countdown to something worse. William, Ethan, and I were stuck in this suspended state, forced to wait when everything inside me screamed for action.
My mind was spinning. Lucas had been on the verge of uncovering something vital, something that could expose the mole or Ferraro's entire operation. And now he was silenced, his life hanging by a thread. The people we trusted were slipping into question marks, and every corner felt like it held shadows we couldn't see past.
Ethan's voice cut through the tension. "We need to make Ferraro nervous. Shake him up. He's not going to expect us to make a move now—he'll think we're too busy dealing with Lucas."
