They sat together in that quiet lounge, the air so heavy with tension and raw honesty that Nina could feel it pressing against her skin. Adrian sat to her right, gentle but protective, his hand brushing hers now and then. Marcus sat to her left, intense as always, his dark eyes fixed on her like he was trying to read every thought in her mind.
No music played in the background, just the low hum of people talking and the occasional clink of glass. But around their little table, it felt like there was no one else in the world.
Marcus broke the silence first. His voice was low, a little rough, like he was trying not to sound vulnerable.
“Nina,” he said slowly, “you need to tell us what you really want. And don’t hold back this time.”
She looked from Marcus’s dark, demanding eyes to Adrian
