The silence between Elena and Andrea was thick, the weight of the conversation hanging heavily in the air. Elena stood frozen, trying to process what Andrea had just told her. The people looking for her—dangerous people—were coming for Damien now too? The realization hit her like a freight train.
Andrea’s voice broke through the silence again, this time softer. “We have to move quickly, Elena. They’ll be looking for you everywhere, and the longer you stay here, the more dangerous it becomes for both of you.”
“Damien doesn’t know any of this. He can’t,” Elena said, her voice cracking. The thought of dragging Damien into her mess, involving him in the danger she had tried so desperately to escape, made her stomach churn.
“You have to tell him, Elena. You can’t keep him in the dark forever
