Liam's playful expression vanished.
His jaw tightened. He leaned forward and placed a firm hand on Vanessa's shoulder.
"Vanessa," he said, tone low and serious. "Where is Sam?"
She didn't speak for a moment. Her eyes flicked away from his, then slowly returned.
She let out a sigh. "What we're doing here is just a façade," she muttered. "A setup… to catch the Nightcrawler. Sam isn't here."
Liam's brows twitched.
Vanessa continued. "They're keeping him at the police station. Under heavy protection."
Liam's lips curved into a slow, wicked grin. Like a hunter that had just found the trail.
She didn't say anything else.
He was already opening the door, ready to slip into the shadows again.
"Be careful," she said quietly.
He paused for a second, blinked at her once—silent acknowledgment—then disappeared without a word.
Like smoke in the wind.
