The drive back to the city felt longer than Sierra remembered. The lake house faded into the distance, swallowed by trees and silence, while the skyline of steel and glass grew larger with every passing mile.
Sierra sat in the backseat, her hands twisted tightly in her lap. Damien drove, his posture relaxed, his eyes sharp on the road. Vanessa sat in the passenger seat, sunglasses shielding her gaze, her lips curved in the faintest smile.
It felt like being transported from one battlefield to another.
Arrival
Their penthouse waited like a mausoleum of glass and steel. The doorman greeted them warmly, but Sierra swore he looked at her too long, his gaze lingering on her trembling hands.
The elevator ride stretched endlessly. Vanessa hummed softly, her smile serene. Damien was silent. S
