THIRD PERSON POV
Maxie moved down the police station steps like she was walking through smoke, barely seeing, barely breathing, her mind replaying Diana's last words over and over again.
"…the person you're calling to ask about is dead."
Her chest squeezed so hard she thought her ribs would crack.
She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, muttering curses under her breath, too angry to think straight, too terrified to slow down.
Then…
She collided into someone.
Hard.
Her phone nearly slipped again.
"Can you not…" she snapped, ready to bite the stranger's head off.
But when the man's face came into focus…She froze.
"Tory…?" she breathed.
He stood there, same piercing eyes, same calm, unreadable expression, the same stranger who stepped in during her fight with Jake months ago.
Only now… something about him felt heavier. Darker. Like he had been expecting her.
His gaze swept over her trembling hands, her red eyes, her shaking breath.
"Maxie," he said quietly.
