The rain had just stopped when Elias pulled into the driveway, his sleek black sedan gliding into the garage with a soft hum. The streetlamps cast a golden glow on the slick pavement outside, and droplets clung stubbornly to the windshield. The air was cool, heavy with that earthy scent that always followed a storm.

Elias killed the engine and sat there for a moment, gripping the steering wheel. His thoughts were still tangled with the earlier meeting with Maya. It had been a tense conversation, but at least he had seen her—at least she had answered his call.

He got out, pushing the garage door closed, and walked toward...