The voices inside were getting louder.
Not shouting.
But sharper.
Controlled tension.
The kind that meant something important was happening.
I stood just outside the open door, my heart beating faster than it should have, every instinct telling me to walk away.
This wasn’t my business.
This wasn’t my world.
But that wasn’t true anymore, was it?
I was in this now.
Whether I liked it or not.
I stepped a little closer.
Just enough.
Max’s voice was low, firm. “You shouldn’t be here.”
A second voice answered.
Female.
Cool. Controlled.
Familiar.
“I go where I need to.”
My stomach tightened.
Victoria.
Of course it was.
“I told you to stay away from this,” Max said.
“And I told you that wasn’t going to happen,” she replied smoothly.
There was a pause.
Then—
“You’ve compli
