The world outside Leah’s apartment was loud, chaotic, but in the small living room where she now stood face-to-face with Damien Cole, everything was quiet.
Disarmingly quiet.
Her breath was unsteady, her eyes still wet, and the faint trembling of her hands refused to stop. She didn’t know whether it was fear, relief, or the overwhelming weight of everything that had happened. Maybe it was all three. But she knew one thing for certain:
Damien was here.
In front of her.
And looking at her like she was the only thing anchoring him to this earth.
He stood inches from her now, breath warm against her forehead, one hand still cupping her cheek, his thumb gently brushing away the tear she didn’t even realize had fallen.
His eyes dark, tired, and full of emotions he had buried for far too l
