Kira’s POV
The shouting swelled like a wave crashing toward us, voices piling on top of each other until it sounded like one long, angry roar. Families were on their feet now, kids clinging to legs, men jabbing fingers in the air, women wiping tears with the backs of their hands. The whole hall vibrated with it.
Adrian raised both palms, voice booming over the noise. “Everyone…calm down. I hear you. I’m handling it.”
Despite that, the roar got louder.
I pinched the inside of his arm…hard. The kind of pinch that leaves a red crescent and makes grown men yelp.
He flinched, head whipping toward me.
“My offer’s still on the table,” I hissed, keeping my voice low enough that only he could hear. “But it’s got an expiration time. Like, thirty seconds from now. Let me talk to them. I know ex
