Elena's POV
I didn't sleep.
Not even with Julian beside me, his hand wrapped around mine like a lifeline.
The words replayed over and over in my head:
> "You think you've won, bitch?"
"I held a gun to your head."
"Next time, I'll pull the trigger."
Morning light crept across the windows like a silent warning. We didn't wait. We packed what we could and left before sunrise.
Julian drove fast, one hand on the wheel, the other always close—like he was ready to shield me from something that hadn't shown itself yet.
"Where are we going?" I asked quietly.
"To the only place that hasn't been compromised," he said. "Sebastian's safe house. It's deep in the hills. Untraceable."
Sebastian.
Just hearing his name again sent a ripple of something through my chest. Guilt. Gratitude. Fear.
He took a bullet for me.
And now… he might be the only one who can help us finish this.
