Mara’s Pov

I pressed my back against the cold brick wall, my heart hammering against my ribs. I held my breath, watching through the gap in the alley as Elias stood in the middle of the street. He looked exhausted. His tie was loose, his hair was a mess, and even from here, I could see the slight stagger in his step.

My hand moved toward the edge of the wall. I wanted to call out his name. I wanted to run to him, throw my arms around his neck, and tell him I was okay, and how much I missed him. When I saw him grab that stranger’s shoulder,...