The drive across the city felt unreal.
Rain streaked heavily across the dark windows of the armored SUV while the glow of late-night traffic blurred outside like distant fire.
Nobody spoke much at first.
Adrian sat in the far back quietly scrolling through files on a tablet Elena gave him.
The replica sat beside him unnaturally still.
Victor remained connected through speakerphone, muttering occasional complaints about government surveillance and "emotionally constipated billionaires."
Elena handled calls nonstop from the front passenger seat.
Calm.
Cold.
Efficient.
Like crises were part of her daily routine.
And Dante
Dante sat beside Camille in suffocating silence.
One arm stretched behind her seat protectively.
Close enough that his thigh brushed hers every time the vehicle turned sharply.
Camille stared ahead trying to focus on literally anything else.
The rain.
The city lights.
The sound of tires against wet pavement.
Not him.
Definitely not him.
