The car smelled faintly of Cody's cologne, sharp and musky, mixing with the faint leather scent of the seats. Stella sat stiffly in the passenger's side, her manicured nails digging into her palm as she wrung her hands in silence. The city outside blurred past, neon lights and people bustling, but her heart pounded too loudly to notice any of it.
"Stell," Cody's voice finally broke through, low, almost careful. "You've been quiet since we left the house. You're scaring me here."
Stella turned her head slowly, her dark eyes glossy as they locked onto him. "What do you want me to say, Cody? That I'm not terrified? That walking in there to face him doesn't feel like stepping into a warzone?"
Cody gripped the steering wheel tighter, jaw tensing. "You're not walking in there alone. I told yo
