RIO
I woke to the sound of unfamiliar quiet.
It wasn’t the tense, guarded silence of the compound, where it felt like even the walls were listening. This house felt softer. The wood creaked in a way that made it feel lived-in, not watched. I liked spending time with Lucy, the boys, and a few of the clan members, but I hated staying there.
I’m not typically claustrophobic, but I felt it in the compound.
Every morning when I woke up, it felt suffocating. I sensed something was coming, but I couldn’t tell what it was.
Now it made sense.
As I looked around, I noticed the air carried a faint smell of motor oil, leather, and coffee that had just been brewed. It was a rough, masculine scent, but it didn’t feel threatening.
For a split second, panic flared in my chest.
I sat up quickly, th
