Arrow’s eyes meet mine. He doesn’t say anything, but the look says:Keep her talking. Keep her here.
Juno’s voice crackles through comms. “ETA five.”
“Copy,” Arrow says.
I glance out the window. We’re heading toward Maddox Security HQ—an ugly beautiful beast of glass and steel tucked into Saint Pierce’s industrial edge like it belongs there. It’s the kind of building that looks calm and clean on the outside and absolutely lethal on the inside.
Salem shifts. “Where are we going?” she asks, voice steady, but her shoulders are tight.
“Headquarters,” I say. “Safe place. Lots of people. Walls that don’t let monsters in.”
She gives me a side-eye. “You say that like you’ve tested it.”
I smile. “We have.”
Arrow’s tires whisper over wet pavement as we pull into the underground access. The gate opens automatically. Camerasswivel to track us. The whole place feels like a machine waking up, recognizing our presence.
Salem leans forward slightly, eyes scanning. “Wow,” she murmurs. “This is… real.”
“It’s real,” I agree.
She just blinks like she’s letting the word sink in. The SUV stops. Arrow kills the engine, and for a second, all we hear is the quiet hum of ventilation and Salem’s breathing—still a little fast, still controlled.
I turn toward her. “Okay. Here’s what happens next. We go inside. There are a lot of people. They’re safe. Some of them are… intense.”
Her brows lift. “Intense how?”
“Like,” I say carefully, “if you trip, three men will try to catch you and fight each other for the honor.”
She snorts, then looks like she surprises herself by doing it. Good. I like that sound. “Do I need a code word?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I say. “It’s ‘Ozzy, shut up.’”
Her eyes narrow. “I think I’ll be great at this.”
Arrow opens his door. “Let’s go.”
Salem steps out and winces as she steps forward. “Oww.”
My heart trips. “Are you okay?”
“My knee. Maybe I hurt it while running. Not sure.” She tries walking faster, but limps again.
I don’t even think about it. I lift her in one swift motion.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“Carrying you. Can’t very well have you limping around and causing yourself to get hurt even more.”
She laughs lightly, so lightly I barely hear her. “I guess chivalry isn’t dead.”
“Just hold onto me.”
Her arms wrap around my neck as I carry her bride-style through the lot. “Good girl,” I whisper, and my heart pounds.
She licks her lips, and I try to ignore the way my entire body lights up at the sight.
I clear my throat and walk. “Anyway—HQ.”