Chapter 34

The morning sun cast long shadows as Ravenna crouched behind a parked car, her eyes fixed on Rylan's office building. She'd been there for hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of something—anything—that might give her an edge. But so far, all she'd seen was the usual parade of suited executives and harried assistants.

Just as she was about to call it quits, a flicker of movement caught her eye. A man dressed in black, his face obscured by dark sunglasses, slipped out of an alley across the street. There was something off about him—the way he moved, the constant scanning of his surroundings. Ravenna's instincts screamed danger.

Heart racing, she ducked out from behind the car and began walking briskly in the opposite direction. She could feel the man's eyes on her back, hear his footsteps echoing her own. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she forced it down. She wasn't some helpless victim—not anymore.

Spotting a busy coffee shop ahead, Ravenna ducked inside and wove through the crowd