Chapter 145: collar ready
They split up according to the plan.
Rhea slipped around the side of the house, her movements quick and quiet as she scaled the low wall, dropping into the backyard with a soft thud.
The television inside blared, so loud it carried through the walls, making Rhea wince even from outside.
Perfect cover, she thought, crouching low and creeping toward the back door, her collar ready in hand, waiting for the signal to enter.
Freya and Kael approached the front door, their footsteps light on the porch. Kael’s heart pounded, the stun baton a reassuring weight, while Freya’s calm exterior hid the adrenaline spiking through her. They exchanged a glance, and Kael rang the bell, the chime barely audible over the TV’s racket.
The door swung open, revealing a lithe girl in a flour-dusted apron over a loose t-shirt and sweatpants, her black curly hair tied back, glasses perched on her nose. Her eyes lit up with genuine joy. "Oh, Kael, you’re here! Welcome!" Lila’s voice was loud, cutting through the television’s noise, her smile warm and disarming.
The TV volume dropped suddenly, and a sharp voice called from inside, "Who is it?"
Lila turned, her tone cheerful. "It’s my friend Kael from the massage parlor! I told him to visit for lunch sometime. He’s here with his girlfriend."
Freya’s eyebrow arched, her blue eyes flicking to Kael with a playful wink at the "girlfriend" comment. Kael’s hazel eyes widened briefly, but he played along, his grin tight.