“Arga, are you sure this place is safe?”

Vania’s eyes scanned the nearly empty café tucked into a quiet corner of the city. The hanging lamp above them swayed softly, its dim light casting restless shadows across the wooden table where they sat.

Arga took a slow sip of his coffee before meeting her gaze with calm, steady eyes. “This place belongs to a friend of mine. No cameras, no watchers. We can speak freely here.”

Vania exhaled, gripping her warm cup as if it could still the trembling in her hands.

“I never thought Devandra would go this far,” she said quietly. “I thought he only wanted to scare...