*Aria*
The world outside blurs into streaks of light as the limo speeds down the dimly lit streets, and my heart races in time with the engine's roar. Every bump, every jolt sends a new wave of panic coursing through me. I can still feel the tremor in Ryder’s hand as he squeezes mine, grounding me even as the chaos unfolds around us.
“Stay calm,” he had said, but how can I remain calm when the shadows of the past are catching up to us? Viktor. His name echoes in my mind, a ghost I thought I had buried long ago. I glance at Ryder, his eyes sharp and focused, a fierce protector in the storm around me. He is my anchor, but even anchors can be pulled into the depths.
“Ryder, what if he finds us? What if he…” My voice breaks, and I swallow hard, forcing back the fear that threatens to overw
