Chapter 487


    We were practically jogging to keep up with Maddox, entirely ignoring Ronan''s earlier words.


    Maddox was power-walking, his urgency evident in every brisk step and the frequent anxious nces


    he cast over his shoulder.


    Hannah and I kept up the pursuit, cloaking our urgency in the guise of a casual stroll, dreading that he


    might spot us. Even though he probably wouldn''t recognize us, getting too close could still rouse his


    suspicions.


    He zipped through the streets, making sharp turns until he plunged into a back alley behind Main


    Street.


    We hung back, not daring to follow too closely anymore.


    The alley stretched out long and narrow, leading straight to another bustling thoroughfare, and right at


    the corner stood a weathered apartmentplex.


    We watched Maddox enter theplex and were about to follow when Larkin appeared out of


    nowhere, blocking our path with a hushed urgency, "Hold on, you two. This is Maddox''s mother''s ce.


    Don''t spook him!"


    Hannah and I froze, but Larkin gestured to her, "Get going. I''ve got eyes on him. Don''t muck things up.


    If he gets wind of us, we''ll never track down Zora."


    In a low voice, I asked Larkin, "Any sign of Zora or my son?"


    He shook his head with conviction, "Nothing yet."


    Reluctantly, I cast onest nce towards theplex before retreating with Hannah the way we


    came.


    Back at the inn, I let out a sigh of defeat, murmuring to Hannah as we walked, "Howe there''s still


    no word on her?"


    Night fell, and Ronan''s people began trickling back with updates—one reported that Jan had made it


    to the city, while another confirmed that Jerome''s men had arrived, a party of four.


    But the real kicker came from Logan, who sent over a crystal-clear phone recording of ra calling


    Zora.


    "Hey, sis, you''re back in town but noting home?" ra''s voice was as provocatively sweet as ever.


    Zora fired back with barely-contained rage, "What''s your game, ra?"


    "Just missing you, my dear sister, that''s all. Heard you were back, figured I should too. I’ve been away


    for too long. Gotta see mom and dad, right?" ra''s voice was sharine, almost teasing.


    "Don''t give me that. It''s your home, not mine. I didn''te back for that. You''re always scheming,


    ra!"


    "Sis, that''s cold. We''re flesh and blood, remember? I''ve let bygones be bygones. Why can’t you do the


    same?"


    "Even if I owed you back then, ra, I''ve paid my dues over the years. You—"


    ra cut her off, "Stop harping on about that measly living expenses. What about the rest?"


    In the call, Zora''s side sounded quiet, maybe she was outdoors, with the rustling of wind.


    raughed, "Taking you down would be no sweat for a wanted man. How I know is irrelevant. What


    matters is I do. Come home, Zora. Mom''s practically going blind from crying over missing you."


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    "She''s always blind and worthless! If she were not, that monster wouldn''t still be alive," Zora spat.


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    Silence enveloped the call, ra''s words clearly hitting a nerve.