*Ava*
Martin’s words hit like a slap, and the romantic moment Luca and I almost had vanishes. More importantly, I never got to tell him I cracked the code.
After hours of work, it finally broke open beneath my fingertips. I figured out the message mere seconds before Luca almost kissed me. Before Luis and Martin burst in, and now the compound’s burning, and Luca’s already heading for the door.
I grab his arm. “Wait—I figured it out,” I say, my voice filled with urgency. “The code. I broke it. There’s a message.”
He stops, his eyes locking on mine, but before either of us can speak again, footsteps rush down the hall. Diego appears first, blade in hand, his eyes moving over the room, taking in Luis and Martin, still catching their breath. Raquel follows just behind, her shawl pulled tig
