Chapter 19: Golden

After seven torturous hours in the air, the plane finally landed. The descent had been rough—turbulence shaking the cabin—and I was grateful to be back on solid ground.

The sun was harsh against the runway as we stepped out, the afternoon heat wrapping around us like a heavy blanket. It was one o’clock, but the day felt never-ending.

A sleek black car awaited us, the driver standing by with military-like precision. Constantine’s expression didn’t change as he slid into the backseat, leaving me to follow. As the car pulled away from the airport, I watched the city blur past, vibrant and full of life—a sharp contrast to the cold silence between us.

The drive to the hotel was short, but every second felt stretched, heavy with the words we weren’t saying. When we arrived, the hotel loomed over us, a glass and steel tower that glittered under the sun. It was the kind of place that radiated wealth and power—just like Constantine.

As we walked through the grand lobby, my footsteps echoed on