At Sadie's signal, two soldiers stepped forward to carry out her orders.

"W-Wait…" Lauren stammered.

She quickly raised her hands and put on a placating smile. "Let's talk this through like civilized people. No need to get physical."

"What? Now you want to talk?" Sadie scoffed. "Done with your pretense?"

"I was just messing around earlier. Don't take it personally. Ask me anything, and I'll tell you everything I know." Lauren immediately chose to give in.

"Don't even think about playing games with me," Sadie warned. "If you lie to me, I swear you'll regret it."

"Relax. I won't lie," Lauren said with an ingratiating smile. "I'm as straight as an arrow."

Sadie frowned slightly but didn't press further. Something about Lauren's behavior didn't sit right with her. One moment she was acting clueless, the next she was oddly cooperative. It was hard to tell what she was up to.

"Alright then. Tell me. Do you know Callan Banks?" Grace asked coolly.

"Do I know him? Of course, I do." Lau