Chapter 30

• Maya’s hands trembled as she closed the children’s bedroom door behind her. Their innocent faces, peaceful in sleep, were the only thing grounding her amidst the chaos that threatened to consume her world. She leaned her head against the door for a moment, gathering her thoughts, before walking to the kitchen where Rafael waited.
• He stood by the counter, arms crossed, his dark eyes burning with intensity. The tension in the room was suffocating, both of them weighed down by the knowledge that Matteo Romano was closing in.
• “We need a plan,” Rafael said, his voice cutting through the silence.