MARIA POV
The moment the door burst open, my heart leapt in my chest, both from relief and the electric surge of adrenaline. Dax and Henry stormed in like twin forces of nature, their sheer presence sucking the air out of the room. For a brief second, I couldn’t take my eyes off them—Henry’s sharp glare, Dax’s set jaw—and the way they moved in perfect sync, like predators zeroing in on their prey.
My fear dissolved into something steadier, firmer. Courage. They were here. I wasn’t alone anymore.
Steve spun around at the noise, his face twisting in shock as he took them in. His tan complexion paled visibly, and his bravado faltered for the first time. It lasted only a fraction of a second, though. The bastard had an ego as thick as steel, and his fear turned to fury almost instantly.
