Chapter 151: Fire in the Veins
The chopper blades had barely stopped spinning when my boots hit the rooftop.
The cold night air hit me like a slap—fresh, sharp, real. The city below glittered like nothing had happened, like no guns had been drawn, no hostages taken, no lives nearly ruined. But I wasn't fooled.
Everything had changed.
Anthony led the way, silent for once, the Hawaiian shirt fluttering slightly beneath his tactical vest. We moved across the rooftop, down a private stairwell, and through the reinforced elevator doors that led back into the sanctum we called home.
The apartment was warm. Soft lights hummed. The familiar scent of Camille's overpriced candles hung in the air—lavender and woodsmoke. Something comforting. Safe.
Safe.
A lie I wanted so badly to believe.
Camille stood by the counter, arms crossed tightly, chest rising and falling too quickly. Her eyes met mine with a surge of emotion—relief, frustration, fear—but she didn't speak.
Alexis was pacing, her tablet gripped in one hand, the other tugging at her hair. She stopped when she saw us. "Is she—?"
Sienna was behind me, walking slowly but on her own. Camille moved first, arms wrapping tight around her. Alexis followed. There were whispers, half-sobbed apologies, promises, kisses on the forehead.
I lingered by the door.