MARIA POV
Tampa.
The realization hit me like a sucker punch to the gut as we passed the first familiar street sign. I gritted my teeth, my heart hammering against my ribs. Of course, it had to be Tampa. f*****g Tampa.
The streets, the buildings, even the damn smell of the air brought back memories I didn’t want to revisit. My father had grown up here, and everything about him—his schemes, his chaos—seemed to have roots in this city. St. Petersburg was just across the bay, where we’d built a life far away from his shadow. How stupid of me not to think of this earlier.
But then again, maybe this was a blessing in disguise. Tampa wasn’t just some random city. I knew it, at least well enough—80% at best, but better than nothing. I could work with this. I had to.
I glanced at Steve
