Later that evening while driving home, Alankrita found herself replaying the moment.
Not the hug.
Not the proximity.
The concern.
The instinctive protection.
That surprised her.
She had spent years protecting others.
Raghuveer.
Herself.
Her future.
Being protected by someone else felt unfamiliar.
Very unfamiliar.
Meanwhile, somewhere else in London, Damiano replayed an entirely different part of the event.
The expression on her face when she realized she was safe.
The immediate gratitude in her eyes.
The trust.
Trust was rare in his world.
Far rarer than admiration.
And infinitely more valuable.