LAUREN'S POV

My head rested against the glass of the window as Roman drove out of the compound. The hum of the engine filled the silence between us, steady and low, like the rhythm of a heart that refused to slow down. I exhaled softly, watching the city roll by — houses, trees, morning joggers, everything so calm and ordinary, except for the strange tension lingering inside me.

Roman didn’t come with his driver today. He said he wanted to “personally” take us to school and work, but I ...