Dave couldn’t fathom what was going through Luke’s mind. The typically gentle smile and refreshing aura Luke exuded had vanished, reced by a predatory presence, like that of a hunter eyeing its quarry. Dave’s throat constricted with a twinge of guilt, fearing that Luke might discern something awry.


    Ring-


    Ring-


    Ring-


    The sudden ring of Luke’s phone shattered the quiet of the hallway, causing Dave to release a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. It felt like a lifeline had been thrown to him, saving him from a tense moment with Luke.


    "Hello?" Luke’s deep voice resonated through the phone, sending a shiver down the caller’s spine. Something in his tone hinted at an underlying tension, leaving the person on the other end with a sense of unease.


    "Have you found Dave?" Rafael’s voice carried a clear edge of irritation as he spoke from the other end of the line.


    "Hmm," Luke nced at Dave, who stood before him, hands casually tucked in his pockets, exuding an air of calmness and drowsiness. "I’ll bring him back to my ce for now." With that, Luke headed straight for the elevator without waiting for Dave. Dave knew Luke awaited an exnation for what happened in Hera’s ce while they were all in their own homes, but Luke intended to ensure Dave wouldn’t slip away before he had his chance to interrogate him. Dave had only five minutes to strategize his escape n before Luke went into full interrogation mode or maybe a n on how to exin things.


    As expected, within five minutes, they arrived at Luke’s apartment, conveniently located just two floors below Hera’s. As soon as the door closed behind them, Luke headed straight for the couch, arms folded across his chest, one leg crossed over the other, his expression stern and expectant. It was clear he was waiting for Dave to start exining if anything had happened while they were all away.


    Dave calmly walked over, hands still tucked into his pockets. But instead ofunching into an exnation, he shifted into full-on aggrieved mode, adopting a pitiful demeanor reminiscent of a neglected child. "You guys are too much!" he eximed, his tone animated, like a child throwing a tantrum. "You knew I was drunk, and as my best buddies, I expected you to at least send me home! But when I woke up, not only was I in an unfamiliar ce, but I couldn’t even find you guys! You have no idea how surprised I was for a moment there."</subtxt>