A laugh escaped Maya despite the knot in her chest, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She promised Harper they’d be back soon, though the unease in her stomach twisted tighter as the call ended.
For now, she pushed it aside, leaning back against Damien’s warmth when he returned. But in the back of her mind, the warning echoed: peace never lasted.
They finally tore themselves from the comfort of that private cocoon, showered, dressed, and—though Damien dragged his feet every step of the way—headed back. By late morning, they walked hand in hand across the small landing pad where Damien’s helicopter waited, blades glinting in the sun as if eager to carry them away.
The flight was quiet, intimate in its own way. Maya leaned against his shoulder, her fingers loosely curled with his on the
