The car engine went quiet.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The neighborhood stretched around them in calm indifference—tree-lined streets, neat pavements, the occasional passerby who had no idea that two people sitting in that parked car were about to disturb something carefully hidden.
Juliette's fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her bag.
"This is it?" she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.
Brendan's gaze remained fixed ahead, scanning the building across the street. A modest apartment complex. Nothing extravagant. Nothing that would draw attention.
"Yeah," he said. "She's here."
Juliette followed his gaze. "Does she know you're coming?"
"No."
That made her turn to him. "Brendan—"
"She wouldn't agree to meet if she did," he cut in calmly. "This way… we don't give her a choice."
There was no harshness in his tone. Just certainty.
Juliette studied his face for a second longer before exhaling. "Alright."
