ngine was the only sound that filled the space, but her mind was far too loud for comfort. She was replaying everything i

oices on his part, he had destroyed it. Tina grasped her hands into fists in her lap,

done. And now, she had to

said much after they left the ballroom, and that silence had given her too much space

Jesse asked, breaking the silence. His tone was ca

her brows furrowing

You've got that look the one people wear when they're

l, bitter laugh. "

ack in his seat. "But that does

so unexpectedly, and everything about him seemed contradictory-one minute, he was playful and relaxed, t

crets, too. You can't just walk into someone

by her sudden shift. "What make

le like you don't just show up out of nowhere. You're

s head slightly. "You've g

," she shot back,

lightly. "You'll have to dig deeper if

hat made Tina's heart skip a beat. She hated the fact th

e window. They were pulling up to an impressive building tall, and sle

Tina asked, surprised by t

ed. "One of

oming increasingly clear that Jesse was not who she had originally thought

ver opened her door. She hesitated for a moment before stepping out, her he

t expensive. Tina felt out of place, but Jesse walked through

e doors slid shut, Tina couldn't help but

sion as the elevator began to asce

aken aback. "Wh

ied. "You didn't break down, didn't cr

idn't feel strong.

slightly. "It's okay to feel that way. But you d

r throat suddenly

ut, her eyes widening as she took in the expansive space, floor-to-ceiling windows with

s tie as he went. He glanced over his shoulder a

t you ex

nto the room. "Honestly? I don'

s tie onto the couch. "Tha

eeded answers. She couldn't keep dancing around t

voice steady but firm.

a moment, he was quiet, his eyes searchin

if I told you," he fina

replied, cros

the first time, Tina saw a glimpse of somethin

tumbled into your life, Tina

a interrupted, her

ir. "The Santos name... it carries weigh

unsure where this was goi

, and for the first time, she

ntrol everything, such as Politics, money, and crime.

skipped a b

rious. "The Petrov Mafia. That'

. She had heard of the Petrov family everyone had. They were notorious a

k, her mind reeling

dy on hers. "It's not something

esse was, but she never expected this. Her pulse quickened, her breath

didn't want to drag you into this, Tina.

up further. "But you did.

ned. "I didn't

oice," Tina shot bac

e charming, playful man she had met at the party

cold. "Not in my world. In my w

know what to believe anymore. Everything was spinning out of con

s gaze softening again. "But I'll

r any sign of deception. But all she saw wa

pered, her voic

use I've never met anyone like you.

to believe him. She wanted to trust him. But the world he came from

reaking the tension. He glanced down at the scree

muttered, slipping the p

. "What kind

iel. He's making moves. And it

cold again. "Wh

dening. "He's trying to take us

heart s

hapter of her life behind, Nathaniel

e stakes were hig