hem, thick with unspoken words. The night stretched long and re

she stared at the illuminated screen of her phone. The image still burned in her mind-he

red invol

rip mirrored the storm brewing beneath his carefully composed exterior. He hadn't said a word since

said, her voice quiet

on the road, navigating the darkened streets with

king at her, he a

ed. "How

ou been getting

ch time ignoring them, convincing herself they were empty threats-j

eks," she

d sharply. "

dn't

ng with restrained anger. "You didn't think. You

lips. "Ethan, let's not pretend we're something we're not. You bought

eel tightened. "Th

urning away. "I stopped expecting

tretched, hea

Like it or not, you're

ed. "I do

ith a sharp look

er pause. It wasn't arrogance or possessive

her throat. "Whoever it is

n darkened. "They

ent a chill

wa

s wasn't something long-planned, something o

e photo. The uneasy feeling s

asn't

n her seat. "

eet, the city lights fading beh

owned.

private road leading to a high-rise buildi

ed. "You're taking

re," he sa

not an

her. His gaze was steady, unwavering. "

on her own, the way she always had. But there was something

ust doing this o

actual

ed slowly

, then stepped

t of the night settling

ified her more-the danger

first time in years, sh

ge from the café's street. What they see sends a chill down A