(Casey's POV)
___________
The dial tone shrieked in my ear like a warning bell, each ring hammering into my nerves with increasing urgency. I stood there, frozen, breath held in anticipation as the line rang… and rang…
Then—nothing.
The call cut off. The tone went dead.
Silence.
Cold, hollow silence.
"What the hell?" I gasped, staring at my phone as if it had betrayed me. My voice came out sharper than I intended, edged with panic. "Why isn't she picking up?"
Liam raised his brows and leaned on the side of my desk, trying to keep things light. "Maybe she's just… busy?" he offered with a shrug, his tone casual, but I caught the flicker of concern in his eyes. He was beginning to catch on that things were seriously wrong at the moment. It was about time.
