The Calm Before the Storm
Rory’s POV
I woke early that morning to a heavy silence that felt almost peaceful. The night’s events still haunted my mind, but now, in the quiet light of dawn, I tried to gather my thoughts. Julian and I had managed to escape the immediate threat from Castillo’s men. We were now on the long road to the underground safe haven that Isabella had arranged for us. In that van, as we left behind the chaos of the estate, I had felt both fear and a fragile hope.
The van rolled along a narrow mountain road, and I sat quietly next to Julian. His face was serious as he stared out the window. I reached over and took his hand. He looked at me and offered a small, reassuring smile. In that moment, the past few hours seemed like a distant nightmare, and for a brief time, I
