RYDEN

 “You take her home, Ryden. Now.”

 For a moment I stared at Zarah. “Why?”

 “Just do as I said.” She widened her eyes at me to stop asking.

 When I told Amelia we were going home, I was surprised she didn’t resist. She buckled her seatbelt silently.

 “Hey. Thanks for what you did back there. I’m proud of you.”

 “I did nothing, Ryden.”

 I squeezed her hand and kissed it. “You were there for me and never left my side. You handled the dinner like a ...