Maya sat quietly on the edge of the couch, folding Elias’s freshly laundered blanket and placing it at the foot of his bed. He had just fallen asleep after a light dinner, and she had spent the last hour checking on his bandage, adjusting his pillows, and quietly cleaning up around the guest room.

The room smelled faintly of chamomile tea and clean linens. She looked at Elias’s resting face for a moment, her heart heavy with guilt and gratitude. He had taken a bullet for her and Anika. Without hesitation. Without question.

As she straightened up and brushed a few crumbs from the table, she exhaled deeply. The weight...