a P

my door when a franti

ai

xiety and determination. Damien instinctively straightened up, his body posi

window. "Damien, it's okay

ghtly. He turned to face Leo, his expression shifting

n Mont

er's grip tighten, a petty, masculine test of strength. He w

d my

nyielding strength. I saw Leo's knuckles turn white, and a brief flash of

t to cover his discomfort. "What e

seat. "He's a full-time Uber driver," I said,

river? Aura, that's not a stable

d looped my arm through Damien's, standing by his side. "

something-amusement? surprise?-in his

Leo," he said, his voice si

rmined expression seemed to silence his p

gars, living i

aned out, her face a mask of contempt. "Don't come crawling

ft a moment ago, turned to chips of ice. He stared at

went pale, and she stumbled back from the window, dis

to notice the silent exchange. "Let's jus

ed back at me. He nodded, getting into the driver's seat. The car pull

breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "I'm sorr

n the road. "I thought the way

watching the familiar suburban houses give way to the taller buildings

the address he gave me. I had never spent much time on this side of Chicago, but I knew enough about i

ndromat buzzed on the corner, its fluorescent sign flickering in the morning light. There was a small grocery with hand-painted sale signs in the

people. People who worked late shifts, carried groceries home in plastic bags, and kept flower

and a clean glass door. It wasn't glamorous. It didn't scream money. If anything, it looked like one

here,"

but clean lobby with old tile floors, polished mailboxes, and the

. Just the top floor. A lucky rent

y was quiet and carpeted, the doors newer than the building itse

right and unlocked it. He pushed it open a

side and my

city skyline. The furniture was minimalist and modern-a sleek leather sofa, a glass coffee table, and a stat

him in disbelief. "How can an Ube

sed to be two apartments before he knocked the wall down. He's overseas for a year, and I help keep an ey

ering luxury tower with a doorman and marble floors. It was an old working-class building with one apartment th

pressed a cool, hea

" he said, his voice

me, I felt like I mi