all pine trees, the kind of pla

t simple-not for

gging Julian's hoodie tighter around her. The breeze dance

steps behind her b

t," Julian said softly. "Company probably bo

ered a small smile

up the bottle and two misma

ike aged vinegar and laughing despite themselves. For t

ed about to sell movies," Julian admitted after a long

im, her expressio

re. And messy. And maybe it doesn't save you-but it gives you

vulnerability in his v

watched my mom die and everything broke. But with you... sometim

ly, giving her space t

whispers promises instead of shouting them. His hand rested gently on

didn't know where he

ious moments, the

art only when

r en

cl

lo

. The headlights flashed across the trees, then cut out. A

sed under

ere," h

grabbing his hand. "Not

lowly stepped onto the porch, Amar

Clean suit. Silve

blood w

arl

tepped out of a board meeting, calm a

e," he said, voice smooth like poison. "Running

clenched. "Wh

g closer. "You think you can outrun this? That gir

me again an

ed, but he was already

hosts, I see. Just like her mother.

breath

t w

pos

inside h

er?" she asked,

s a fool. She found the edges of something she couldn't underst

an l

, holding him back wi

He's not worth it

you're not back in the city with every file you've stolen returned

d got back i

ike that,

eavy with sho

h steps, hands shaking. Amara

able of that?" she asked

d ahead, his

erous. I didn't kno