She recounted everything from the beginning—the washroom, the hidden staircase concealed from sight, the search that had spread through the mall, the blind spots in surveillance that should not have existed, and finally Dakota's disappearance amid the growing chaos.
Every detail was laid bare.
There were no excuses.
No attempts to soften failure or shift blame.
Only facts. Only facts were stated and the outcome.
When she finished, silence descended once more.
Kade's expression remained unchanged.
That frightened them more than anger ever could.
If he had shouted or allowed even a fraction of his rage to surface, perhaps they would have known how to respond. Anger could be endured. Punishment could be accepted. But this stillness was different. It carried the quiet weight of a storm gathering beyond the horizon, unseen but inevitable.
His gaze passed over the assembled guards.
One by one, their heads lowered further.
No one dared meet his eyes.
"How did this happen?"
