The room was completely dark.
Ava could hear
her own heartbeat.
Fast.
Loud.
Unsteady.
She hated that.
She hated feeling afraid.
But standing in the darkness with an unknown person inside the office...
Even she had to admit—
This was different.
Then Damien moved.
"Ava."
His voice was low.
"Stay behind me."
The command should have annoyed her.
She didn't like being told what to do.
But something about the way he said it...
It wasn't arrogance.
It was protection.
And that confused her more than the darkness.
"Damien..."
"Don't move."
A few seconds passed.
Then emergency li