As I sat in the backseat of the car, staring out the window at the blur of city lights, the tension in my chest was nearly unbearable. The silence between Tony and me was thick, suffocating. The events of the past few days had left me feeling numb, but beneath that numbness was a current of fear and anger, ready to burst free at any moment.
Tony had been quiet for most of the drive, his focus on the road ahead. But as we got closer to our destination, he finally broke the silence.
“You know, Grace,” Tony began, his voice low and measured, “I’ve been trying to be patient with you. We all have. But you’re making things harder on yourself by being so damn defiant.” He glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his eyes cold. “Marshall’s got plans, and you’re a part of them, whether you like it o
