The glass doors whispered shut behind them, muffling the murmur of voices inside the hotel. Outside, the morning light had softened into a silver haze, carrying the faint scent of wet pavement. Hugo kept their pace brisk but not hurried, his long strides a steady guide for Lea. A dark sedan waited at the curb, its engine already running. Two security staff opened the back doors in one smooth motion.
Lea slid in first, still clutching the edge of her coat, and felt the cocoon of the car's interior swallow her. The door thumped shut behind her, sealing out the noise. Hugo followed immediately, his presence filling the small space as the vehicle eased into motion. The city blurred past outside—the rising sun on glass towers, the thin stream of traffic, curious onlookers craning their necks as the sedan rolled away.
