"Missing..." The word echoed through the dimly lit room, each syllable a chilling reminder of the urgency that gripped Leon's heart. He felt an icy wave crash over him, prickling his skin, as he seized James by the collar, his voice a low growl. "Say it again—who is missing?"
"The lady is missing." James's voice trembled, panic brimming in his eyes. "Laya just called me. They've searched the entire mansion, and she's nowhere to be found!"
"No... No..." A cold dread settled in Leon's stomach. He bolted toward the pavilion doors, Finn and James hot on his heels. Time was slipping away, and with every frantic ring of the phone, all he got was the heart-wrenching sound of silence—her phone was switched off. He dialed again, desperation clawing at him.
"Leon... you need to calm down," Finn urged, though his own voice betrayed his fear. "We will find her. You keep trying her on the phone." He could barely finish the thought—what if she was in danger, what if she was abducted? The image of her vulnerable and alone sent his mind spiraling.
Finn shook off the creeping dread and snapped into action, determination coursing through his veins. He barked orders as the heir of Hales family for an immediate city-wide search. "I want every street blocked, every corner checked!" he commanded, his voice steady but laced with urgency.
Leon dialed the chief of Deskmore's security, his grip tightening around the phone. "Listen to me—this is a code red. Use the entire force of Deskmore. I don't care what it takes, find Mira! Now!" The weight of his words hung in the air, mingling with the palpable tension that enveloped them.
Time was running out, and with each passing second, the fear grew stronger, threatening to consume them all. The fight to uncover the truth had begun, and Leon would stop at nothing to bring her back.