Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Andre scooped up the little munchkin, his voice playfully stern, "Daddy's off to work. Make sure you get some sleep at home, and no staying up all night like a little night owl, got it?" The little guy was already defying him, snuggling into Andre's chest, his yawns becoming more frequent as sleepiness took over.

Andre stroked his son's cheek, indulging him with a soft smile, "You can sleep in a bit in the morning."

The morning buzzed by, and Cooper's face popped up on a video call, "Where's my favorite little man?"

"Out like a light," Mia replied with a smirk.

Cooper signed off with a quick, "Later."

It wasn't long before Anya chimed in with a video invite, and an exhausted Jade called her BFF. Mia's status update followed soon after: 'The little one's asleep.'

With that, the calls mercifully ceased.

Come midday, Chad was notably absent from the team lunch.

Donnie knocked on the door, "Boss, I'm ordering takeout. What's your poison?"

"I'm heading back to the hotel. Molly's waiting for me there."

Donnie's response was a silent nod.

With only minutes to spare, Chad rushed back to the hotel to grab a quick bite with the girl.

He'd gone to bed late the night before, so he took the chance for a power nap at the hotel.

When he woke up, he found Jade curled up beside him, fast asleep.

As Chad left the room, he gently tucked her back into the covers, adjusting her position with the utmost care before slipping out quietly.

He made a beeline for Easton's office at the precinct. "Got any leads?"

his hair in frustration, "You're

squinted, "Who else came

mom, Jiang City's finest, Andre, Hansen, and

Chad's face was unreadable.

Chad decided

of this. Everyone knows Molly's your sister. With

at a technicality, "Legally,

guesthouse is old; the wiring's a mess. Could've been an electrical fire. Plus, there were new kitchen gadgets for Coleen - all being examined. We're still waiting on the forensics for some fragments." Chad asked about

awake, but door-to-door inquiries had turned up zilch. They

a peek at the surveillance

Andre could do more than just apply pressure. He could "close a case" in ways Easton didn't want

spent two hours in Easton's office, then called Andre from

...

Chad was still swamped with work at the precinct,

the darkness deepened, Molly's calls grew more frantic. "Bro, you coming back

"I'll be there. Lights on, doors locked.

"Please hurry."

will. Try to get some

for you," Molly

smile was just a

couldn't help but notice the change in Officer Chad at the sound of a familiar voice on

case wrapping up, Chad swung by Easton's office one last time before

of joe for Easton. "Don't

get it. We've all watched over Molly like she was our little sister. But worry doesn't speed

Easton realized she never visited without reason, but she just wanted an update on

...

ten, Chad was back at

entered his room,

the shower, she lay in