Naomi’s Pov

The van felt too small on the way back.

Too cramped.

Too quiet.

Too full of everything we weren’t saying.

Rubio drove, but slower than usual, glancing into the mirror every few seconds like he was checking on children in the backseat.

Mara sat beside him, arms crossed, eyes on the road, but her jaw was tight; she felt the tension in the air just like I did.

And Cassian…

Cassian sat next to me in the back row.

Silent.

Still.

But not calm.

His knee bounced once.

Then stopped.

Then started again.

His fingers twitched lightly against his thigh, the only sign that the fear inside him...