Samantha's POV
Morning traffic softly hummed through the city outside the safe house. Though it did not help to chase away the darkness in my mind, a fresh layer of sunlight spilled through the window. I watched my phone, Royce's most recent message still there on the screen.
Samantha, you are running a risky game.
A cold crawled along my back. Royce was reminding me that we were walking a razor's edge, not just playing about with us. One misplaced action might bring everything down. Underneath that anxiety, though, something else stirred: a quiet resistance, a mounting will not to let him prevail.
Alex was packing the meager equipment we possessed across the room. He was deliberate, precise and efficient in his motions, yet I could sense the tightness in his shoulders and stress in h
