CHAPTER 37

The weight of their newfound hope settled on Sarah's shoulders, a heavy counterpoint to the gnawing unease that had taken root in her gut.

The meeting with Ramirez had been a turning point, a crack in the seemingly impenetrable wall Bobby had built around himself. Yet, a sliver of unease, a prickling sensation at the back of her neck, refused to be ignored.

"Do you think it went well?" Derrick asked, his voice laced with a hopeful tremor as they drove away from the coffee shop.

Sarah gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white. "It's a start," she admitted, her voice strained. "Ramirez seems willing to listen, but Bobby's a powerful man. He won't give up easily."

"We knew that going in," Derrick said, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "We're prepared for a fight."