Elena?
She stepped out of the car with the same controlled precision as always, but this time my composure cracked just slightly at the edges.
Because she wasn't supposed to be here.
Not here. Not now.
My eyes narrowed as I watched her straighten fully, her gaze lifting to meet mine without hesitation, and for a brief moment neither of us spoke, the silence between us stretching into something heavier than sound, something that felt like it had been waiting for this exact moment to finally surface.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice sharper than intended. My eyes flicked briefly over her surroundings before snapping back to her face. "Were you following me?"
"Yes," she answered immediately.
No hesitation. No excuse.
Just truth.
That alone made something in my chest tighten.
"I find your behavior strange," she added, her tone calm but cutting in a way that felt more dangerous than anger. "Something about you is off, Alyssa."
