Violet's POV
Throughout the drive from the police station, I remained quiet, my mind a jumbled mess of thoughts. Ryder, noticing my tension, suggested lunch at one of my favorite restaurants nearby. His idea was welcomed with open arms; it was just what I needed.
I stepped into the cozy restaurant, the aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering spices-though faint-hovered in the air, and I took deep breaths. The sweet aroma already had me salivating.
Adrian, being who he was, didn't need a reservation, and soon we were shown to a seat just beside the window, exactly where I liked it. We waited for our orders, our conversations consisting of a few mutters and grunts. I still couldn't push aside my encounter with Xavier. Adrian's gaze never left mine. His intensity made my pulse flutter,
