POV Ryder Black
Morning came way too fast, but I still couldn’t sleep. I had been up all night, staying on high alert. Even though I had guards stationed all over, something still felt off. I gripped the tree trunk in front of my cabin, scanning the distance. Making sure everything was normal.
I replayed the entire process in my head. The k********g had gone smoothly—too smoothly. Everything went according to plan. And yet… I didn’t feel satisfied at all. The goal was right there. The hostage was secured. We were just one step away from making the trade. So why the hell was I feeling so uneasy?
My thoughts kept drifting back to Liliana. What was wrong with me? We didn’t even know each other before this. There should be no personal attachment to a hostage.
A soft breeze rustled the towe
