But Hughie forcibly suppressed the thought as soon as it arose.
In his eyes, Solomon had always been just an ordinary man, someone who kept out of trouble, wanted only a peaceful life, and never wished to get swept into the bloody storm surrounding Supes.
This conflict was far too brutal, filled with violence, slaughter, and endless darkness. No one knew that better than he did.
Caught up in this bloody turmoil, he was already exhausted in body and mind, battered all over. From the bottom of his heart, he did not want Solomon to step into this endless mire and repeat his mistakes.
But then he quickly reconsidered. Annie might be their only hope of breaking the deadlock.
Annie was Starlight of the Seven. She definitely had the ability to rescue Frenchie and the others from CIA custody.
Hughie hesitated no longer. Trembling, he pulled out his phone and repeatedly dialed Annie's number with tense fingers.
The cold, unanswered-call tone sounded through the receiver again and again. Every stretch of silence deepened the anxiety and despair in his heart.
But he did not give up in the slightest. Stubbornly, he kept dialing, over and over, refusing to let go of this one lifeline.
After who knew how many attempts and a long wait, the call finally connected.
Dusk hung heavy over the city. The pitch-black curtain of night had swallowed the daylight completely, shrouding the entire city in a still, oppressive darkness.
A luxury car drove smoothly through the dim streets before slowly stopping outside a detached villa.
Madelyn opened the door, got out, and stepped into her yard. Her usually warm, brightly lit home was now pitch-black, without a single light, steeped in an eerie, deathly silence.
A flicker of unease crossed her mind. She reached up and