He paused briefly.
“Of negotiating her release before we have to resort to force.”
Force.
The word didn’t scare me coming from him.
It reassured me — because it meant strategy.
It meant preparation. It meant control.
I let my head fall back against his chest again.
His heartbeat was still steady.
“If that’s what it takes...” I whispered.
“Then let’s go.”
I swallowed.
“But how safe will it be? For Daphne. For Yannis. For us?”
His arms wrapped around me tighter.
Not possessively.
Protectively.
“You are safe wherever I am.”
The words were firm. Unwavering.
“You.”
His fingers pressed slightly into my skin.
“Our daughter.”
His voice softened at Daphne’s name.
“Yannis.”
His jaw hardened again.
“No harm will ever touch any of you again.”
He leaned down slightly so his forehead rested briefly against mine.
“Not in this lifetime.”
His breath mingled with mine.
“Elena...”
He exhaled slowly.
“I know healing doesn’t happen overnight.”
