The beam of headlights cut across the garden like a blade, slicing through the night, catching us where we stood—too close, breathless, guilty.
I stumbled back first, nearly tripping over the damp grass, my chest heaving. Adrian’s hand shot out, steadying me, but the contact only deepened the panic thrumming in my veins.
Daniel’s car crunched up the driveway, gravel scattering beneath his tires.
“Go,” Adrian hissed, his voice sharp, low. “Inside. Now.”
But my legs wouldn’t move. They felt rooted to the earth, paralyzed. My gaze fixed on the car door as it opened, the metallic click echoing like a gunshot in the still night.
Daniel stepped out, shoulders heavy, his tie loosened, his expression unreadable in the shifting shadows. He paused, scanning the driveway, the house, then the gar
