Chapter 146 The Heat

• The flight back to Seattle was tense, a suffocating silence wrapping itself around Ethan and Brandon. Ethan's jaw clenched as he stared out the window, feeling the weight of unspoken words between them. Brandon's fingers drummed against his knee, his heart racing with worry. Neither had said much since they boarded the plane, the air thick with something more than just unease.
• Once they arrived, there was no time to waste. Brandon led the way, marching into the house with Ethan trailing close behind. His steps were hurried, each footfall heavy with anxiety. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was happening behind that closed door, where his sister had isolated herself for days.
• They stopped outside Britney’s room. Brandon leaned against the door, his forehead pressed to the wood, as if hoping to feel her presence through it. He knocked softly, his voice trembling with desperation. "Britney, I don't know what's going on, but please... open the door. It's me."