In the rush of being shoved into the backseat, his hand swiped against his pocket. His phone tumbled out, hitting the pavement with a sharp crack just as the van door slammed shut.
The engines roared, and the vans sped off.
The street fell silent again.
His phone lay on the pavement, the screen flickering once… then went dark.
A few minutes later, Matteo's car pulled up outside Adrian's studio.
The engine hadn't even fully stopped before his eyes scanned the entrance.
Adrian wasn't there.
A slight frown touched his face.
He pulled out his phone and called.
It rang.
No answer.
"Maybe he's still upstairs," Matteo muttered, already reaching for the door.
The bodyguard stepped out quickly and opened it for him.
Matteo got out, dialing again—
One of the guards glanced around, then his gaze dropped to the ground.
"Boss, look at this," the guard said, pointing at the asphalt.
Heavy tire scuffs and fresh skid marks scarred the ground, signs of a violent, rushed exit.
