Alessia sat quietly during the drive back, not because she agreed with Rafael, but because something inside had shifted. The encounter earlier, the warning he had given, and the way he reacted all of it felt different now. It wasn’t just about him trying to control the situation anymore. No, this time there was fear behind his actions, and that unsettled her far more than any argument could.
When the car finally stopped, it wasn’t at the familiar penthouse. She furrowed her brow, watching the scene beyond the window. They were no longer in the bustling city center but somewhere far quieter, more secluded. A wave of unease tightened her chest. “Where are we?” she asked.
Rafael stepped out before answering. “Somewhere safer.”
She followed, her heels crunching on the gravel. A large, moder
