The quiet in the panic room stayed long after the danger was gone. It felt heavy against Lila’s skin, like an unseen weight. Breathing became slow and careful, each breath filled with effort. The metal walls that had protected them now seemed to be closing in, trapping the unspoken words between them.
Even after the intruders left and Regan said it was safe, Lila stayed quiet. Her throat felt tight, and her mind was full of too many thoughts to speak. She moved around the house in a daze, packing whatever they could carry—ledgers, photos, encrypted drives. She fumbled with clasps and zippers even though the emergency evacuation routine should have been instinctive by now. She avoided looking into his eyes because she couldn't stand to see what might be there: regret, expectation, or worse
