Chapter 8

• Cleo listened intently, her heart aching for him. She had only scratched the surface of the torment Julian had inflicted on her, but seeing Rowan's vulnerability—his confession—gave her a deeper understanding of the depth of the man's pain. He was not just a strong, silent protector; he was a man wounded, scarred, yet fueled by an unwavering desire for justice. The revelation shifted their dynamic. He was no longer just her rescuer, the man she was falling in love with. He was an ally, a partner in their mutual fight for freedom and retribution.
• “And this plan…," Cleo began cautiously, "is it safe? For both of us?”
• Rowan met her gaze, his eyes filled with a mixture of determination and apprehension. "It’s risky," he admitted. "Julian is powerful. He has resources we can only dream of. But I've been planning this for years, Cleo. I’ve studied his weaknesses, his patterns. I know how he operates."