Darien Cole sat motionless, the pressure of the moment pressing down like a slow vice tightening at his temples. His hands were still clasped together, but his grip was so tight his knuckles had turned pale. Across from him, Nathan Voss remained standing, his lips slightly parted, as if waiting for a final word that might never come.
Neither of them said anything for a long moment. The unspoken truth between them was louder than anything they could put into words.
They didn't have any choice.
Not anymore, It wasn't about right or wrong. Not in this moment, It was about survival.
They'd known enough. Not everything, maybe—but enough to raise alarms. Enough to act. And yet they kept quiet. Why? Because the names involved were too powerful. Because exposing the truth would burn the house they helped build.
Now the fire was spreading—and the smoke was reaching their doorstep.
Darien finally exhaled, low and shaky. "We'll stay quiet… for now."
Nathan looked down.
