The room fell into an eerie silence, the earlier chatter and laughter evaporating like smoke. All eyes were on Abdelkarim, who stood tall with the gun firmly in his grasp. Even the rugged man who had slapped him seemed caught off guard, his eyes widening in a mix of disbelief and anger.Benjamin, who had been calmly observing moments earlier, straightened in his seat, his sharp gaze narrowing as he assessed the situation. He hadn't anticipated this escalation, and for a fleeting moment, his surprise flickered across his face. Cipherella, sitting beside him, froze, her lips parting slightly as her eyes darted between Abdelkarim and the scarred man.The tension was palpable. The rugged man pushed his chair back slightly, his hands clenching into fists as if ready to retaliate. His companions, who had been laughing moments ago, now looked uneasy, their confidence shaken."You think this is funny?" Abdelkarim said, his voice steady, but the undercurrent of anger was unmistakable. He point

Abdelkarim smiled proudly, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction at the selection. “This, master, is Fatteh,” he said, pointing to the large bowl of creamy yogurt sauce layered over crispy pita bread, chickpeas, and a golden drizzle of ghee, topped with pine nuts and fresh parsley. He moved his finger to the next dish. “And this is Kibbeh, spiced lamb wrapped in bulgur and fried to a crispy perfection.” Next, he gestured toward a sizzling plate of skewers. “Shish Tawook, tender chicken marinated in garlic, lemon, and paprika, served with flatbread,” he explained, the warm scent of grilled meat filling the space. To his left, a bowl of Mujadara caught Benjamin’s eye—earthy lentils and rice topped with caramelized onions. Abdelkarim pointed at it. “That’s Mujadara. Simple, but hearty and full of flavor.” He then reached for a bowl of hummus and Baba Ghanoush. “And these are two of our staples—Hummus, made from chickpeas and tahini, and Baba Ghanoush, a smoky eggplant dip,” he said, his p

“I was just—” Maverick swallowed hard. “I said that to Brianna because… because I wanted her attention. I made it up. I swear! I didn’t think it’d get back to you!”Austin glanced at his brother, a flicker of frustration dancing in his eyes. He didn’t buy it. “You expect us to believe you’d throw around a rumor like that for no reason?”Maverick clenched his fists behind his back, the rope digging into his wrists. “I—had issues with Benjamin before,” he admitted, voice trembling. “But I wouldn’t do anything to him. I’m not a killer. You have to believe me.”Matthew let go of Maverick’s chin, straightening up. He exchanged a look with Austin, who ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. The same dead end, over and over.“You keep saying that,” Austin muttered, pacing in a small circle. “But Benjamin’s missing, possibly dead, and you’re the only lead we’ve got. You’d better come up with something.”“I can’t give you what I don’t have,” Maverick pleaded, breathing heavily, his waterl

Moments later, Rose Stone opened the door, her brows furrowing in concern. “Is something wrong?” she asked.Collins gestured toward the garage. “Mrs. Stone, I noticed you have a security camera outside. Does it record activity in the driveway or the street?”Rose’s expression brightened slightly as if a small glimmer of hope had sparked. “Yes, it should. We have a surveillance system installed. It records continuously.”Parker stepped forward. “Would it be possible to review the footage? It might give us a clue as to when your son left and if anyone else was in the area at the time.”“Of course,” Rose said quickly, opening the door wider. “Rudra! The officers need to see the security footage!”A moment later, Rudra Stone appeared in the foyer, his phone still in hand. “The footage? From the camera?” he asked, glancing between the officers and his wife.“Yes, Mr. Stone,” Collins replied. “It could be a critical lead. If your son left the house from this driveway, the footage might show

Soon it was the next day, the night had finally arrived. Benjamin stood by the large window of the hotel room, his silhouette framed against the faint glow of the city lights outside. The air was thick with anticipation, his mind racing through the final steps of their plan. The time had come to finish what they had started. He turned to Abdelkarim, who was already standing by the door, his posture confident, yet carrying the silent weight of the mission ahead. “We’re ready,” Benjamin said, his voice low but resolute. Abdelkarim gave a sharp nod, his expression firm. “Everything is set. The men are in position.” Cipherella’s voice crackled through the comms system in the room, her tone steady but focused. “I’ll be monitoring the cameras from here. I’ll give you updates as needed. If anything goes wrong, you’ll hear from me.” Benjamin met her words with a nod. “Understood. Keep us covered.” With that, he turned to head toward the door, Abdelkarim following closely behind. Th