The city lights blur as we pull into the underground parking garage beneath Victoria's penthouse. My fingers dig into the fabric of my seat, my heart beating so hard, like it might break free from my chest. Michael hums softly to himself from the driver's seat, the picture of calm, while Alex sits rigid beside me, his jaw clenched tight.
"Stay close to me," Alex says in a low voice, his blue eyes locking onto mine. They're intense, burning with determination and something else I can't quite name. "If anything feels wrong, we leave immediately. No questions."
I nod, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. "Okay."
Michael throws the car into park and hops out with a carefree stretch, as though we're here for nothing more serious than a dinner reservation. "You two are so uptight," he jokes, flashing a grin. "Relax. I've got this under control."
Alex glares at him, his voice cutting through the tension. "If this goes sideways, it's on you."