Chapter 13

• Eena opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her throat felt dry, and her tongue sat heavy, refusing to move. Mateo’s warm smile didn’t help if anything, it made her more nervous. He had the same sharp jawline as Carlos, the same height, the same calm aura, but there was something much softer in his eyes.
• “Relax,” he said gently, noticing her stiff posture. His voice was deep, smooth, and nothing like Carlos’s clipped tone. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
• Eena let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “I… I wasn’t scared. Just… surprised.”