CHAPTER 22
Lauren took a slow sip of her coffee, savoring the bitter, sweet heat. “I hated every minute of those sessions with him. I hated his face, his voice, his stupid, perfect posture. But he was right. I moved like a runner.” She set the cup down, a tired honesty in her eyes. “I think that’s the worst part, Finn. I hate Ryle, but he made me better.”
Finn nodded seriously. “He uses cruelty as a tool. But tools can be stolen and repurposed. You took his lesson and used it to beat his i***t follower. That’s your win, Lauren, not his.”
Lauren stared at the sugary, fried dough sitting on the plate. She reached out, took a churro, and instead of taking a cautious bite, she snapped a large piece off.
It was sweet, messy, and entirely pointless—and she loved it.
“How did you know about
