A heavy silence lingered, the air pregnant with unspoken words. Itzy, torn between the conflicting forces of family and her love for Jace, felt the weight of the moment pressing down on her. She glanced at Gerard, searching for a sign of understanding or perhaps forgiveness, and then turned to Jace, his expression unreadable.
Gerard, his eyes fixed on Jace, demanded an explanation. "What's the meaning of all this? Where have you been? Why did you take my daughter?"
Jace, aware of the guns pointed at him, took a measured breath before responding. "Let's stop here. I'm tired."
The officers, still on high alert, exchanged wary glances. Gerard's anger simmered beneath the surface, his mind grappling with the whirlwind of revelations. "Explain yourself, Jace. What do you mean, let's stop here?"
"I'm giving your daughter back," Jace said, still emotionless.