Chapter 178

Mariana POV

The return trip was silent in a way that felt heavy, not peaceful. City lights blurred beyond the windows, streaks of neon and halogen reflected on the wet pavement. The streets were mostly empty at this hour, traffic light, pedestrians few.

Dimitri kept both hands on the steering wheel, his knuckles white, his jaw tense. He hadn't looked at me since we left the parking garage. I didn't know if it was because he was angry, or because he was processing something, or becau