(Author’s POV)
Smoke curled from the tunnel they had just emerged from, Selene still had her arm under Adrian’s as he leaned slightly, half-exhausted, half-alert. A distant BOOM thundered behind them.
They turned in unison. The compound erupted into flames. Concrete and steel were ripped apart from the inside, plumes of black smoke and bursts of orange fire rising like the wrath of the underworld being unleashed.
In front of them, a caravan of black vehicles stood ready, Jiang, flanked by Selene’s elite guards, and Matteo, standing tall by Adrian’s men. They had held the perimeter, waiting… hoping.
The moment Jiang saw Selene, his chest rose and fell with visible relief. He rushed forward.
"Boss! You're…" He stopped himself, seeing the bruises, the dried blood, the exhaustion in her f
