Damian's POV
Victor's messenger standing on my border at midnight was either the boldest move I'd seen in years or the stupidest.
I hadn't decided which yet.
I stood at the border with the cold pressing in from the east and Aria two steps to my right as I watched the truck pull out.
I hadn't stopped her from negotiating.
I wouldn't have.
But I'd wanted to. That want—the instinct to step in front of her, to put my body between her and the woman with Victor's envelope had taken real effort to override.
I turned and walked back to the vehicle.
Aria fell into step beside me without being asked.
The drive back was quiet.
I kept both hands on the wheel. The convoy behind us moved through the dark tree line and the city opened up ahead—lights, the distant part of a
