The powerful sedan car executed a violent, smoking drift as it tore through the wide-open iron gates of a massive, luxurious estate, the tires screeching directly onto the polished cobblestone driveway. Alexander slammed the vehicle into park, the engine idling with a heavy, aggressive growl.

"Stay inside the car," stated Alexander, his voice an unyielding, freezing command as he cast a sharp glance at Serena. "Do not step a single foot outside, no matter what."

Before Serena could even process the thrill of the ride, Alexander threw his door open and sprinted toward the main entrance of the grand residence. He didn’t even have time to knock before the heavy oak door swung open, revealing Professor Isabella. Her professional composure was entirely gone; her hair was a messy nest, her makeup was deeply smudged from heavy crying, and her face was completely pale with raw panic.

The moment she saw his tall frame, she threw herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck as a fresh wave of desperate, frantic sobs escaped her chest.

"She’s gone, Alex! She’s completely gone!" wailed Isabella, her voice cracking violently under the weight of her sheer terror. She pulled back slightly, her trembling hands reaching into her pocket to pull out a tiny, broken plastic disc—the exact tracking device she had shown him earlier in the parking lot. "I found this... I found the tracker! I came home early thinking she was still upstairs, but it was just sitting on her desk! She found it! I don’t know what time she left, I don’t know who she’s with, I don’t know anything! Alex, please, you have to help me... you have to find my baby! I don’t know what I’ll do if something happens to her!"

"Calm down, Isabella," stated Alexander, his hands firmly gripping her shaking shoulders to force her to lock her hysterical gaze onto his cold, calculated eyes. "Think logically. What else do you know? Do you know where they usually go, or exactly who this Sinclair lackey is?"

"I don’t know his name! I swear I don’t!" sobbed Isabella, her chest heaving frantically as she shook her head in complete despair. "But... but someone sent me a photo of him yesterday! The person who warned me about them sent me a picture of the place where they were spotted!"

She quickly unlocked her phone with a trembling finger and thrust the screen right in front of Alexander’s face. He snatched the device, his dark eyes instantly narrowing as he analyzed the image. It showed a young, arrogant-looking guy sitting at a table inside a highly distinct, high-end restaurant with unique neon accents and a recognizable luxury aesthetic.

"I know this restaurant," stated Alexander, his mind immediately cataloging the layout and the location. It was a notorious, exclusive lounge downtown frequently visited by the wealthy elite and the underground racing scene. "It looks familiar. Is this the absolute only piece of information you have?"

"Yes! Yes, it’s the only thing I have!" whispered Isabella, gripping the lapels of his jacket as if her entire life depended on him. "Please, Alex... that was the last place my informant followed them to. You have to start there!"

The parameters of the hunt were instantly clear. The Sinclair lackey had likely taken Emma back to that exact same VIP lounge to show her off or indulge in her rebellious streak. It wouldn’t be a difficult trail to pick up as long as he moved with absolute speed.

"Stay inside the house and lock the doors," stated Alexander, his voice carrying an absolute, reassuring authority that instantly forced a fragile calm over her frantic mind. "I’m going to find her and bring her back. Do not panic."

Without waiting for her reply, Alexander turned on his heel and sprinted back down the cobblestone steps toward his idling car. He threw the door open, slid into the driver’s seat, and slammed the vehicle into gear before Serena could even utter a single question.

The powerful Mercedes engine roared to life once more as Alexander slammed his foot on the gas, tearing out of the estate’s driveway and aggressively slicing through the evening traffic toward the downtown restaurant district. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

As they approached the street where the high-end lounge was located, Alexander’s sharp eyes scanned the crowded sidewalks from a distance. Just as he was preparing to pull up to the valet, he spotted a young girl matching Emma’s description stepping out of a boutique next to the restaurant, laughing carelessly alongside an arrogant-looking guy in an expensive jacket.

Alexander immediately let off the accelerator, smoothly steering the Mercedes away before they could be spotted. He took a wide detour around the block, eventually parking the car about three blocks away in a dimly lit, tactical position that gave him a clear, unobstructed line of sight toward the couple’s location.

Going in there to make a massive scene right away was entirely out of the question. This wasn’t an official assignment from the organization, but a personal favor for Isabella. If things went sideways, he wouldn’t be receiving any backup or cleaning services from the mysterious network. He needed to be smart, patient, and watch where they were going next.

So, he waited. Two long hours ticked by.

Inside the quiet cabin of the car, Serena was practically vibrating with a mix of impatience and curiosity, continuously leaning over the center console to pester him.

"Are we like... secret agents or something?" whispered Serena, her eyes wide as she looked through the windshield. "Are we literal spies right now, Alex?"

"Yes," stated Alexander smoothly, keeping his eyes firmly locked on the target down the street without a single flicker of distraction. "We are currently waiting for the target to move so we can track her to her destination. Keep your voice down."

At first, the idea of being a spy completely thrilled her, and she kept whispering wild theories about the mission. But as the minutes slowly dragged into hours, the excitement completely wore off. Boredom kicked in, and she began to aggressively poke his arm, fiddle with the radio, and complain about the lack of action.

Alexander let out a low, tired breath. He reached into his breast pocket, pulled out a thick wad of cash, and peeled off a clean hundred-dollar bill, thrusting it directly into her face.

"Look over there," stated Alexander, pointing toward a brightly lit parlor across the street. "There’s an upscale ice cream shop right on the corner. Why don’t you go buy yourself a giant sundae while I keep an eye on the target?"

Serena snatched the money from his fingers, crossing her arms tightly over her chest as she glared at him, her lips forming into a heavy, childish pout.

"I’m taking the money and I’m going to buy it, but only because I actually want to eat one right now!" snapped Serena, her tone full of defensive pride. "Not because you’re trying to treat me like some little kid to get rid of me... hmph!"

She opened the door with a sharp huff, stepping out onto the sidewalk and slamming it behind her, marching across the street with her chin held high.