"What the hell?" Raya whispered, her voice trembling as though the words themselves might shatter her.
The room was still loud with unfinished arguments, lingering irritation, and the low hum of the television no one had bothered to turn off. Yet somehow, the world narrowed until there was nothing but the screen and the image burned into her mind.
Anna Thompson.
Handcuffed.
Dragged.
Her best friend's face, pale, defiant, terrified, flashed across the screen before the camera cut away.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Derek snapped, turning toward Raya. "Why do you look like you've just seen a ghost?"
Raya didn't answer him.
She couldn't.
Her legs moved before her mind caught up, carrying her straight to Stephen. She grabbed his hands with both of hers, fingers cold, grip desperate.
"Please," she said, her voice breaking despite her effort to keep it steady. "I need to see Adrian... Right now"
Stephen stiffened instantly.
