Chapter 142

• Damien paced his small office, the dim light casting shadows against the walls, mirroring the turmoil in his heart. He picked up his phone and dialed Nathan’s number, his fingers tapping nervously against the desk. It felt strange to be reaching out like this, but desperation had become a familiar companion. The moment Nathan answered, Damien felt a rush of relief.
• “Hey, man,” Damien started, trying to sound casual, but the weight of the words he was about to say pressed heavily on his chest. “I need to ask you for another favor.”
• “Sure, what’s up?” Nathan’s voice was steady, unwavering, a good anchor in the storm swirling around Damien. He took a breath, remembering why he had reached out to his friend, a cop, someone who could dig into the darkness that loomed over his life.