Page 139 of In Shadows We Dance

I grip the wheel tighter, the leather creaking under the pressure.

I see her face in my mind. The way she looks at me, the way she sees me. She’s not afraid. Not anymore. She’s past that.I’mthe one losing my grip now. Because she matters in a way I don’t know how to handle. And tonight, I’ll prove that I’ll go as far as it takes to make sure no one makes her do anything she doesn’t want to do ever again.

She has no idea how much power she has over me. I need her, and that need is driving every fucking beat of my heart, every breath I take.

Monty and Nico are risking everything for me tonight because I asked them to. They don't need details, they’re here because I need them. They might not understand why, but they stand by me because that's who we are. But Monty’s warning echoes in my mind.

These aren’t just rent-a-cops.

I know exactly what we’re up against. They’re professionals, well-trained, persistent. But I've spent years learning how to manipulate people, how to control situations to my advantage. They may have numbers and resources, but they don’t have what I have.

Absolute focus.

Obsession.

I press down harder on the gas, and the car surges forward. The road ahead twists and turns, the headlights cutting through the blackness. Adrenaline courses through my veins, a burning fire that keeps me alert, every nerve on edge. Every moment brings me closer to her.

The agents will be scrambling, trying to figure out what's happening, anticipating my next move. But they won't. They'll betoo busy reacting, too busy trying to put out fires—literally and figuratively. Monty and Nico will make sure of that. By the time they realize, it'll be too late, she’ll be back where she belongs.

With me.

Her face fills my mind again, the way her lips parted in surprise the first time I spoke to her, the way she looked at me like she was trying to figure me out. Ineedthat look.

And God help anyone who stands in my way.

Agent Miller and his men don’t know who they’re dealing with. They think I’m just some lovesick fool.

They’re wrong.

I’m Wren Carlisle. And I’ll tear their world apart before I let them touch mine.

CHAPTER 71

Seeking Sanctuary

ILEANA

The door creaks open,the sound cutting through the stillness of the chapel. My muscles tense, heart hammering, as the faint echo of footsteps follows. My mind jumps immediately to the worst-case scenario. Agent Miller, or one of his men looking for me. But the thought twists, and something else slips in … longing.

What if it’s Wren? What if those footsteps belong to him?

The ache for him is almost unbearable, so intense it steals my breath. But it’s Father Michael, his figure emerging from the small room behind the altar. The tension drains from my body. Just him, making his rounds. No Wren. No Agent Miller. No one coming to claim me. For now, anyway.

“More coffee?” His voice is soft, calm, carrying a warmth that feels out of place in the cold, unforgiving stillness. He raises the coffee pot slightly, and the faint scent of roasted beans reaches me.

I hesitate, then nod, holding out my cup. He pours without a word, his steady hand filling it before he straightens. The act is so simple, so ordinary, but it makes my throat tighten. I swallow hard, keeping my expression neutral.

“Thank you.”

He nods in return, his footsteps fading into the background as he moves down the aisle. I bring the coffee to my lips. It gives me something to focus on, besides the quiet.

The chapel is almost empty, the faint light from the altar candles barely reaching the edges of the space. Their glow throws long shadows across the stone floor, making the carvings on thewalls seem alive. I’ve been here for hours, sometimes dozing, mostly just watching the patterns of light on the walls.

Wren told me to find somewhere safe, so that’s what I did. His voice over the phone had been steady, commanding.

You find shelter. I’ll find you.

My grip tightens around the mug, the warmth grounding me as my thoughts spiral back to him. It always comes back to him. Wren has a way of pulling everything into his orbit, of making himself the center of every thought, every decision.

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