Ryan studied Sylvie’s face.
"Are you ready?" he asked quietly.
She swallowed and nodded. "Yes, I'm ready."
He didn’t move immediately.
Instead, he looked at her for a few seconds longer than necessary. He needed to be certain she was really there with him.
"You don’t have to worry," he said finally, his voice low but steady. "I’ll protect you. No matter what happens out there, I am getting you home."
The way he said it made her feel relief.
She nodded again. This time, slower. "I know."
Ryan turned and unlocked the door.
He paused, listening, his body already angled in front of her, shielding her without thinking about it. When nothing happened, he pushed the door open and stepped out first.
The hallway beyond was eerily different from what they had left behind.
The chaos had du
