Chapter 440

The underground parking lot was a total mess. The two figures lying in a pool of blood immediately made everyone tense up. They were supposed to have fallen together—but somehow ended up in positions like they were facing off. Even Pinto couldn’t keep babbling after seeing that. What the hell… happened here? Everyone's footsteps froze at that moment, and the silence swallowed even their breath. Then, after just a beat, someone bolted forward. “Claire—” Nelson Cooper’s heart nearly stopped. The second he recognized Claire Thompson, he sprinted to her without thinking. His mind went completely blank. Even when listening to the captives ramble earlier, all he’d pictured was maybe a bruised version of her—like what happened when Hanson Bentley had grabbed her. Even if she had some marks on her neck, Claire was always the kind who fought back. But this—this was worse than any nightmare he’d had. Nelson dropped to his knees beside her, desperate to see if she was still breathing. Relief hit