_Leah's POV_

I lay in bed, my body tense, waiting for Tariq to fall asleep. Every breath I took was shallow, my heart pounding against my ribs like it might give me away. Beside me, I could hear Tariq’s breathing slow, becoming steady and deep, signaling that he had finally drifted into sleep.

Carefully, I shifted in bed. I couldn’t afford to wake him, not now. My eyes flicked to his phone, resting on the nightstand by his side. My pulse quickened as I stretched out a trembling hand, ...