POV: Sofia

The moment his cars disappeared into the distance, the tension in the air didn’t vanish, it shifted. Like a storm that had passed but left behind a charged sky, heavy and waiting to strike again. I stood there, still clinging to Lucas, my fingers gripping his shirt as if letting go would somehow undo everything we had just staged. My breathing was uneven, shaky, but not from fear anymore. No… this was adrenaline. Triumph laced with danger.

“I told you he wouldn’t back down easily,” Lucas murmured against my hair, his voice low enough that only I could hear. I pulled away slowly, just enough to look up...