Chapter 5: Danny

I’m up before dawn, the faint light creeping through the blinds as I throw on a black hoodie and jeans. Outside, the street is quiet, a chill in the air that seeps into my bones. It’s one of those mornings where everything feels too still, like the world’s holding its breath. I make my way to the kitchen, where Nate’s already at the counter, downing a cup of black coffee. He gives me a nod, his usual silent greeting.

Leo comes in next, looking like he barely slept. He’s got that determined look in his eyes, though, the one he gets when he’s cracked a system and knows he’s got something good. He spent half the night in that back room of ours, hacking into the college directory. By the time he finally came out, he had a list of names and faces—a starting point for today. It’s not much, but it’s all we’ve got, and we’re not about to waste any time.

“Got a list of freshmen and sophomores,” Leo says, dropping a stack of papers on the table. “Figured a guy like him would want someone younger. Makes sense to start there.”

I glance over the sheets, scanning the names and the faces. There are a lot of them, way too many for us to pin down in one morning. But we’re not looking for just any girl. This one will stand out—we just need to figure out how.

Riley appears, fresh out of the shower, his expression as hard as ever. He picks up the keys to the SUV and tosses them in the air, catching them with one hand. “Let’s go,” he says, heading for the garage.

We all pile into the black SUV, Nate riding shotgun while Leo and I take the back. The engine rumbles to life, a low growl that cuts through the morning silence as Riley pulls out of the garage. We’re on the road before the sun’s fully up, the sky a pale gray as we head toward the college. The plan is simple: watch and wait, and see if we can spot anything that gives us a lead.

When we get there, Riley parks along the side street, close enough to see the main entrance but far enough not to draw attention. We’ve done this a hundred times before, in different places and for different reasons, but there’s a tension in the air today that makes my skin prickle. I pull out a cigarette, lighting it and taking a drag as we settle in.

We’ve got a decent view of the campus entrance, where students are starting to trickle in. Most of them look half-asleep, shuffling along with backpacks and coffee cups. A couple of girls pass by in workout gear, laughing and talking, and Nate raises an eyebrow, nudging me. “Think one of them could be her?”

I shake my head. “Not likely. We’re looking for someone with a bit more… I don’t know. Innocence, maybe. Like she doesn’t know she’s in this deep yet.”

Leo pulls out his laptop, flipping it open and scanning through the photos again. “We’re looking for a girl who’s caught the eye of a dangerous guy,” he says, his voice low. “Think about what that might mean. She’s probably a bit naive, doesn’t know she’s on anyone’s radar.”

Riley nods, keeping his eyes on the entrance. “She won’t be flashy. If anything, she’ll be trying to blend in.”

We watch as students pour into the different buildings, a blur of hoodies, jeans, and messenger bags. A few of them catch our attention—girls with short skirts and bright lipstick, the ones who walk with a sway in their step and seem to know everyone’s eyes are on them. But they’re too obvious, too comfortable in the spotlight. This girl, whoever she is, wouldn’t want to be seen.

I watch a couple of them stroll by, leaning forward to get a better look. “What if she’s hiding in plain sight?” I suggest. “The kind who keeps her head down and tries to disappear into the crowd.”

Nate snorts. “So, half the student body, then?”

I shrug, taking another drag. “Could be. But if we’re smart, we’ll spot her. We just need to look for the one who’s not trying to be seen. You can tell a lot by how someone walks, the way they hold themselves.”

The morning drags on, and we sit there, watching and waiting, throwing out theories and trying to piece together what we know. Leo keeps an eye on his laptop, cross-referencing faces with the names on his list. Riley drums his fingers on the steering wheel, his gaze sharp and unblinking, like a hawk waiting to strike.

Then, after what feels like hours, a girl walks past who makes us all pause. She’s not flashy—just wearing jeans and a simple cardigan, her blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. But there’s something about her, the way she keeps her head down, clutching her books like they’re a shield. She’s got that look, the kind that screams she doesn’t want to be noticed.

Leo glances at me, a knowing look passing between us. “Could be her,” he says, tilting the screen toward me so I can see her photo. Sofia Carver, freshman. She fits the profile—a quiet type, mostly keeps to herself, no real social media presence. Just the kind of girl who could slip through the cracks, unnoticed.

Nate grins, crossing his arms. “So, what’s the plan? We just grab her?”

I shake my head. “We need to be smart about this. Follow her, see if we can get a feel for her routine. If we can get close without spooking her, then we’ll make a move. But we need to be sure.”

Riley nods, keeping his eyes on the girl as she disappears into one of the buildings. “We’ll follow her for a while. If it’s her, we’ll know soon enough.”

The four of us settle back, ready to watch and wait, our target finally in sight. We’ve been down this road before, but this time it’s different. This time, the stakes are higher. We know what we’re risking, and we know what we stand to gain. This girl is our ticket out, and we’re not about to let her slip away.