The front door creaked open, and Tina emerged, her brow furrowed in confusion. She scanned the front yard, her gaze darting from one spot to another, as if searching for something lost.
Daniel, looking at her, knew exactly what she was looking for. He'd heard Gina's voice like a faint whisper carried on the wind. 
He actually thought Tina could have heard the voice long ago but unfortunately, maybe it's because his destiny doesn't also want Gina to stay with them and that was why Tina couldn't hear her talking all this while until she was gone.
He could only imagine the turmoil she must be feeling, hoping against hope that her sister was somehow nearby.
"Excuse me," Daniel called out, stepping onto the porch. "Are you looking for something?"
"I thought I heard someone's voice," Tina said, her voice tight with uncertainty. "My sister's voice. I thought I heard you talking to someone, someone that is my sister."
Daniel's heart pounded in his chest. He had to play it cool. He couldn't let Tina suspect anything, he don't want her to have any reason to believe that Gina came here. He feigned confusion, trying to mask the fear that was rising within him.
"Your sister?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral. "You're sure? It must have been the wind, or maybe someone inside the house. I haven't spoken to anyone."
Tina frowned, her eyes searching his face. "I know your voice, Daniel. And I know my sister's. It sounded like she was crying, like she needed help."
Daniel knew he had to act quickly. He couldn't let Tina's suspicions grow. He reached out, his hand brushing against her arm, and gently guided her towards the porch swing.
"Come on, sit down," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. "You're probably just tired. It must be because you're thinking too much, honestly I didn't talk to anyone,"
Tina hesitated, but the warmth in his eyes and the gentle touch of his hand calmed her anxieties. She allowed him to lead her to the swing, her body trembling slightly. As they sat, Daniel could feel the tension radiating from her, and he knew that he had to find a way to ease her worries, for his own sake and for Gina's who had sacrifice letting her sister stay safe than the both of them getting into trouble.
Daniel tried to soothe her anxieties, hoping to convince her that it was all just her imagination. He knew Tina was consumed by the search for her sister, her mind constantly replaying their last moments together. It was understandable, given the circumstances of Gina's disappearance, that Tina would be on edge, clinging to any hope of finding her.
He knew he couldn't tell her the truth, not yet. It was too dangerous. He couldn't risk her finding out about his involvement in Gina's disappearance, because the simple truth is that from now on, he now hands a hand in Gina's disappearance, he could have helped her bit he didn't, or at least he could have informer Tina about it but the choice was a hard one for him and he did what he felt was the right thing to do. He needed to protect Tina and the rest of the team, to keep them safe.
"Tina, I've told you before, you need to stop thinking so much," Daniel said, his voice gentle but firm. "It's all in your head. You're just tired and stressed. I believe the voice you heard also could just be the people inside talking, not your sister. I promise you, I'll find her. I'll bring her back to you. But you need to relax, to take care of yourself."
Tina swallowed hard, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and despair. She desperately wanted to believe him, to let go of the fear that gnawed at her heart. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
"I know, Daniel, I know," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "But it's hard. It's like... like I can't escape it. I dream about her, I hear her voice, I see her face everywhere I look. It's driving me crazy."
She knew that Daniel was trying to help, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. She had a gut feeling that something was amiss, that Daniel wasn't being completely honest with her, but how can she believe that? Daniel of all people will never try to keep a secret from her.
"I understand," Daniel said, his voice softening. "But you need to believe me, Tina. I won't let anything happen to your, sister. I promise, we will find her."
He pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her, trying to offer comfort and reassurance. He knew he couldn't offer her the truth, but he could offer her his support, his unwavering commitment to finding her Gina.
Daniel held Tina close, his voice a soothing balm against her anxieties. "I'm so sorry, Tina," he said, his words laced with sincerity. "But you have my word, my promise. We're going to find her. I'll call everyone first thing tomorrow morning, we'll have a meeting, and we'll start searching. This will all be over soon. We'll bring her home safe, I promise. And anyone who hurt her, anyone involved, will pay. I'll make sure of it."
Tina leaned into his embrace, her body trembling slightly. She desperately wanted to believe him, to trust his words. But a nagging sense of unease lingered in her heart.
"I'm sorry things have to be like this," Daniel continued, his voice low and earnest. "This whole mess, it's affected us both, our family. But we'll get through this. We'll overcome this. We'll be grateful, we'll be safe, we'll be free. But sometimes, Tina, there are sacrifices that need to be made. Sometimes, we have to do things that hurt, to prevent even greater pain."
Tina frowned, confusion clouding her features. "I don't understand," she said, her voice laced with uncertainty. "What sacrifices are you talking about? What do you mean?"
She sensed a hidden meaning in his words, a deeper layer of truth that he wasn't revealing. She knew something was amiss, something he wasn't telling her. It was like he was hinting at something, something dark and unsettling.
"I... I just meant..." Daniel faltered, his voice losing its confidence. He knew he couldn't reveal the truth, not yet. He had to tread carefully, and while making a statement from now own he has to be careful with his statement.
Daniel tried to reassure Tina, his words carefully chosen. "I know you don't understand now, Tina," he said, his voice a low murmur. "But you will, in time. All that matters is sacrifice. I'm willing to sacrifice everything to save your sister, just as I know you'd do the same for me. But sometimes, things aren't so simple. Tomorrow, we'll start the search after having a thoughtful discussion with the rest of the team. I promise."
Tina, her heart still heavy with worry, offered a weak smile and kissed him on the cheek. She leaned her head against his shoulder, finding solace in his presence.
They sat on the veranda, the night air cool against their skin. But despite the peaceful setting, Daniel's mind was far from at ease. He was supposed to be on guard, protecting the house from intruders. Yet, here he was, lost in his own thoughts, distracted by the weight of his secret.
He knew the house was relatively safe. The others inside were alert, ready to defend themselves. They were criminals, after all, hardened by years of living on the edge. But the true danger, the real threat, wasn't from outside. It was from within, from the lie he had woven, the truth he had buried.
The guilt gnawed at him, a constant reminder of his betrayal. He had lied to Tina, deceived her, sent her sister away. He knew the consequences of his actions could be devastating, tearing apart the fragile trust they had built. He feared the day she would discover the truth, the day her tears would turn to anger, her love to bitter resentment.