The senator was quiet for too long, and Claire's finger was getting tighter on the trigger.
No one spoke. The room was thick with tension, the only sound was the faint crackle of the speakerphone.
The senator was breathing heavily on the other end, like a man standing at the edge of a cliff, trying to decide whether to jump or beg for a different ending.
Then, finally, his voice broke through the silence. "Fine! I'll give you the licenses."
Lucas didn't react right away. He let the words settle, let them stretch out like he was considering whether to believe them.
The senator, still desperate, pushed forward. "I'll do what you want. Now let my daughter go."
Lucas leaned down, pressing a button on the phone. "You'll get her back when the deal is finalized. All of it." His voice was calm. Even. Like they were discussing the weather. "Until then, she stays with us. Insurance, you understand."
