Chapter 62

The sun was setting by the time Julian and Erica reached the safe house, casting an orange glow across the horizon. The drive back from their meeting with Stavos had been quiet, both of them lost in their thoughts. They had what they needed, at least for now, but the weight of their new deal with the cunning criminal still hung heavily between them.

Julian parked the car and turned off the engine. For a moment, they both sat in silence, the tension between them palpable. Finally, Julian broke the silence.

"Stavos is dangerous. More dangerous than I thought," he admitted, his voice low. "But we didn’t have a choice, Erica."

Erica turned to face him, her expression hard. “I know we need him, but we also need to be smart about this. He’ll betray us the moment it benefits him.”

Julian nodded. “That’s why we can’t let our guard down. Not for a second.”

She studied his face, noticing the tightness in his jaw, the dark circles under his eyes. They were both exhausted, worn thin by the consta