NESSA ~
I walked outside with Cole beside me, acutely aware of every inch of space between us. I could almost feel his hand hovering at the small of my back—not quite touching, but there, a possessive gesture that made my skin crawl.
The security lights flooded the area outside the warehouse with harsh white light, erasing shadows and making everything stark and exposed. The smell of hay and rain filled my nose, someone must have been storing agricultural supplies here at some point. The scent was earthy, grounding, and it helped calm the raging storm of terror and fury threatening to overwhelm me.
There were two stools set up facing each other in what looked like a cleared area—probably where Cole's men took breaks. Industrial metal stools with round seats, the kind you couldn't easily tip over or use as weapons.
