“Stay in the vehicle, Emily. Keep the doors locked.”

“No,” I said, looking him dead in the eye. “I’m coming with you.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“Marcus wants me, Adrian. If he suspects you are here first, he might do something desperate to Clara.”

“He won’t have the time,” Adrian said.

“But if he gets a glimpse of me, he will hesitate,” I argued.

“He thinks he still has power over me. I need to be the distraction.”

Adrian stared at me, his gaze scanning my face for any sign of weakness.

The rain continued to beat a heavy, rhythmic tattoo on the roof of the SUV.

For a long moment, the only sound was our breathing.

“You are braver than you think, Emily,” Adrian said softly.

“But I will not let him touch you again.”

“I know,” I said. “I trust you.”

It was the absolute truth.

For months, I had lived in terror, running from a man who wanted to destroy me.

But sitting next to Adrian, the fear felt different.

It was sharp, focused, and manageable.

“Alright,” Adrian said, his voice cold and commanding once more.