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Tyler smirks. "That's what I thought."

I don't give him the satisfaction of a response. I just walk out.

By the time I reach Ava's, it feels like an eternity.

She answers almost immediately, which tells me she was already standing near the door.

The moment I see her face, I know something's wrong.

She's clutching her phone in one hand, her knuckles white around it. Her eyes are sharp, but there's something unsettled underneath, something that wasn't there before.

Without a word, she holds up the screen.

I don't have to ask who it's from.

You really should tell your brothers the truth. Or I will.

A slow, cold rage unfurls in my chest.

I step inside, shutting the door behind me. "When did you get this?"

"Right after I left brunch." Ava exhales sharply, rubbing a hand over her forehead. "I was halfway to my car when it came through."

I glance at the timestamp. Fifteen minutes ago.

Fifteen minutes.

Whoever this is, they're not just watching. They're close.

"This has to stop," I mutter, more to myself than to her.

Ava lets out a little huff. "No kidding."

I look at her, really look at her, and I can see it—the exhaustion, the frustration, the way her hands keep tightening into fists like she's barely keeping herself together.

I know that feeling.

I also know she's not going to back down.

"We need to stop playing defense," I say finally. "It's time to take action."

Her eyes snap to mine. "And how do you propose we do that?"

I step closer, lowering my voice. "We set a trap."

Ava blinks. "Excuse me?"

"Whoever this is, they want information. They want control. So we give them something to react to." I fold my arms. "A fake post. A fake event. Something that makes them think we're making a move—forces them to make one of their own."

Ava hesitates, biting her lip. "And if it backfires? If it just escalates things?"

"It won't," I say, but we both know that's a lie. It might. It probably will. But doing nothing isn't an option anymore.

Ava exhales, crossing her arms. "Liam…"

Her voice is different this time.

I know that tone.