Paul stood amidst the wreckage, his gaze fixed on the gaping hole Evan had blasted through the ceiling. His mind reeled, caught between a mix of shock and anger.
The scene around him was a mess, his men lay scattered across the floor, groaning or unconscious, and Suri was gone.
As the adrenaline from the chaos began to ebb, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He hesitated momentarily, dreading the conversation he knew was coming. Reluctantly, he pulled out his phone and answered the call.
Richard's voice boomed through the receiver, sharp and impatient. "So, what's going on? Did you catch that bitch? One of the hidden cameras on-site went off."
Paul struggled to find words, his hand shaking under the weight of failure. Richard's voice cut through his thoughts once more, demanding an answer. "Paul? I asked you a question. It's over, right?"
Paul swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "It's... over."