Sienna
THE DRIVE home was unusually quiet.
I sat in the passenger seat with my hands folded loosely on my lap, keeping my breathing slow and uneven like someone still recovering from a shock. Still, my attention remained inside the car.
Specifically, on the small black air freshener clipped neatly near the center vent.
Marcus reached across me at a red light and pulled the seat belt properly over my shoulder. His movements were gentle, careful in the way people behaved when they believed they were protecting something fragile.
"You're still shaken," he said quietly.
I lowered my gaze and gave him a small nod. "I didn't expect Alistair to show up like that."
Marcus's expression darkened immediately. "You should've called me sooner."
"I didn't want to bother you at
