AVEL
I stood frozen amid the chaos, my chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. My eyes continued to dart around the room, my pulse hammering in my ears. And just then, I felt eyes on me, so I turned around and locked eyes with Reed. His gaze fixed on mine, and for a split second, he appeared genuinely surprised to see me.
But then, something changed. His expression softened, his lips pressed into a thin line, and I could tell he was not just surprised; he was calculating. A shiver ran down my spine as I followed his gaze, my stomach twisting into knots. He wasn’t looking at me anymore. He was looking at Aalto, who gave me the same expression as Reed.
It was like Reed had just told him something without speaking, and Aalto’s entire demeanor shifted. He stiffened, turned his head
