BRIAN

I looked down at her, seeing the way she trembled against the concrete wall, and my grip on her hands softened. The cold, strict tone I used with my captains didn't belong here. Not with her.

I took a slow breath, letting the tension drain out of my shoulders. I reached down, gently taking the pistol back from her shaking fingers and setting it down on the steel counter behind me.

"Okay," I said, my voice dropping into a low, quiet register. "Let's reset."

Daisy let out a shaky breath, her shoulders dropping as she looked up at me. "Thank you."

I didn't step back. Instead, I moved closer,...