The night air cut sharp against Valeria’s skin as the convoy rolled out. Black SUVs moved like shadows through the empty streets, engines low and steady. Inside the lead car, Valeria sat stiff in the back seat, her hands gripping the edge of the leather until her knuckles burned white.
Ares was beside her, calm on the surface, but she could feel the tension radiating off him. His jaw was clenched, his eyes fixed straight ahead. Every muscle in his body seemed coiled, waiting.
She couldn’t breathe. Every thought was of her daughter, the picture Damien had sent. The tape across her mouth. The tears on her cheeks.
Valeria’s stomach twisted. She pressed her forehead to the cool glass and whispered, “Hold on, baby. We’re coming.”
Ares heard. His hand brushed hers, firm, grounding. “We’ll ge
