Daniel's POV
I sit on the couch, my mind blank and my heart heavy. It's been two days—two days, and still no sign of Dane. My fists clench tightly. How can I be so useless? I've always been perfect at everything, always in control… but now I can't even protect the one person who means everything to me.
In frustration, I shove everything off the table. The sound of glass shattering fills the silence, but it doesn't ease the fire burning inside me. Why did my mother do this? Why would she go so far?
I press my hands against my face, trying to calm down, when suddenly my phone buzzes. My heart jumps. Maybe it's Lucas—maybe they've found him.
But it's not Lucas.
It's an unknown number.
A picture message.
I open it—and the air leaves my lungs. My eyes widen, my whole body trembling. Dane… his body lies helplessly on a cold floor, clothes soaked in blood, face covered in wounds. For a moment, I can't even breathe. My hands shake so hard the phone nearly slips from my grip.
