A knock on the door made Axel lift his head instantly.
For a fleeting second, hope flared. He expected to hear the calm voice of medical staff, perhaps announcing that Evelyn had been moved to the room, that he could finally see her properly, touch her hand, and reassure himself she was truly here.
Instead, a familiar voice came from the other side.
"Boss, it's me, Dylan. May I come in?"
His hope vanished as quickly as it came.
"Come in," Axel said, already lowering his gaze back to the iPad resting on his knee.
The door opened softly.
Dylan stepped inside and closed it behind him, his expression solemn. Axel didn't look up. His fingers moved steadily across the screen as he read through messages from Collins.
Lines of encrypted text detailed timelines, suspicious vehicles, and partial leads. The mastermind behind Evelyn's accident was still out there, hiding in the shadows, waiting.
That alone was enough to keep Axel's nerves stretched tight.
