Nina
I stand outside Dr. Julian’s office, staring at the door. I can hear my breath in my ears, feel the tension twisting in my chest. My father’s words echo in my mind. “You need to handle this, Nina. Rylan can’t die in our territory. If he does, it’ll cause a mess we can’t control.”
I swallow hard and knock twice, the sound too loud in the quiet hallway. No response. I knock again. My stomach twists, and I feel like I’m walking into something I can’t undo.
“Come in,” a voice calls from the other side, calm, steady. Dr. Julian.
I push the door open, my hands shaking despite myself, and step into the sterile, white-walled room. The faint smell of antiseptic hits me like a punch to the gut. Dr. Julian’s sitting behind his desk, glancing at a set of papers. His eyes flicker up to meet mi
