"The police station isn't always a place for the guilty," Emily said casually, a faint smile spreading as she glanced at Lyna through the rearview mirror.Her tone was light, but there was a firmness that couldn't be ignored.Lyna, sitting in the back seat, seemed increasingly anxious. She gripped the hem of her shirt tightly, trying to calm herself, which had been filled with fear. "But what can I do there?" she asked in a slightly stuttering voice, clearly not fully understanding the meaning of the suggestion."Yes, take shelter," Emily answered without hesitation, as if it were the most logical thing. "Brian also said you need a place to take shelter, right? If you rely solely on Brian, you're not necessarily safe. Besides, he himself doesn't necessarily have a safe enough place to hide you."Those words made Lyna pause. She slowly looked at Brian through the gap between the front seats, her eyes hopeful, as if waiting for an answer that would give her some comfort. But Brian remai

Brian maintained a faint smile, even though the atmosphere in the room felt incredibly tense after his statement.Mr. Thomas's hand, which he had just held, still felt warm, as if a sign that the agreement had truly been reached, even though it was fraught with uncertainty and hidden interests from each party."Hopefully, this collaboration won't be detrimental to us," Brian said in a calm tone, yet filled with implicit pressure."Of course," Mr. Thomas replied quickly, almost too quickly, as if afraid the opportunity would be lost if he hesitated even a little.That evening's meeting ultimately ended on a less-than-comfortable note. While it appeared to be a business deal, each person in the room was actually harboring their own thoughts and plans.Brian had successfully thwarted the wedding plans that night, and at least given Lyna a year to breathe.However, when Mr. Diego rose from his chair, his face still showing dissatisfaction, Brian immediately raised his hand, signaling for

Brian stared intently at Diego, trying to confirm that what he had just heard wasn't just empty talk."Can you take me there?" Brian asked seriously, his eyes never leaving the man's face.Diego paused for a moment, as if considering something, then finally nodded slowly. "Yes," he replied briefly, but it was enough for Brian to understand that the door he was looking for was beginning to open.That night's conversation ended with an agreement that wasn't explicitly stated, but strong enough to bind them both to their respective goals.They exchanged phone numbers, a small step that was the beginning of something much bigger. Brian knew that from now on, he would have to play it safe, because the deeper he went, the greater the risks he would face.When Brian returned to the apartment, Emily was waiting for him, her usual relaxed expression, as if nothing major had happened."How is it?" Emily asked, leaning back on the sofa, her eyes on Brian curiously."Everything's fine," Brian rep