Cruz:
The door slammed behind us, the heavy metal clank echoing through the compound like a final stamp sealing a fate. Hers. Mine. Ours.
Avery walked a step ahead of me, chin high, like she hadn’t just agreed to step into a world that eats people alive. She didn’t flinch when Prez leaned into her space or threw around that smug tone of his, all smooth charm and veiled tests. She was steel wrapped in softness, and it did something to me—filled me with a pride that burned right alongside the dread tightening in my chest.
I should’ve said no.
She should’ve never said yes.
The sun was dipping low, casting gold across her hair as we made it to the car. I didn’t speak until she reached for the passenger door. I caught her hand.
“You sure?” I asked, low. The kind of low I used when words c
