⸻ ❛𝐖𝐑𝐀𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐈 𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒!❜
Rory Hargrove is obsessed to uncover the truth behind Barbara Holland's disappearance, while facing her brother's enemy and buried secrets from...
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INSECTS CHIRPING — THE SOUND OF SILENCE. It was the moment when the new moon vanished into the vast, star-dusted sky. When a hush draped itself over the Hawkins community pool like a heavy blanket.
The moment everyone had spent the day waiting for—the moment that had driven them to bite their nails raw, to bounce their legs in restless anticipation. A culmination of nerves stretched too thin.
All day long, while Aura's thoughts were tangled in the storm, Steve had made it his mission to pull her away from the chaos, if only for a moment. At her request, he kept her in the loop, updating her on everything happening at Starcourt.
Robin—the genius that she was—had thrown herself completely into cracking the Russian mystery. Her brilliant plan? The air ducts. The only way inside the locked room.
Just one problem—none of them could fit.
So they recruited a kid. Lucas's little sister, Erica.
"Are you out of your minds?"
Aura's reaction was immediate. The plan was already reckless enough—dragging more people into it was dangerous. Dragging a child into it was insane. But apparently, Erica agreed—thanks to a carefully orchestrated bribe —unlimited ice cream. A deal even Rory had trouble competing with.
As if Aura didn't have enough to worry about, now she was on edge imagining the kid getting stuck in the vents—or worse, getting caught by the Russians, sneaking into a place she had no business being in.
But she wasn't the only one uneasy. Steve was, too.
He didn't particularly like her brother-in-law, but he didn't want anything bad to happen to him either—especially knowing how much it would break Rory.
Still, he couldn't be in two places at once.
He had a job. He couldn't afford to get fired —his dad would kill him.
That morning, when he dropped her off at the pool, he kissed her forehead and took her hand. Exhaustion and fear were carved into her face.
"Please, if things get out of control, call me. No matter where I am, I'll come to you."
Rory let out a low, hoarse okay, followed by a deep sigh. They exchanged whispered I love yous and went their separate ways.
So Rory always kept the walkie-talkie close.
Steve trusted her. She was capable—stronger than people gave her credit for. He just worried she wouldn't know when to stop. And that Billy would be the one to make her regret it.
