Chapter 34

Layla's gaze softened, the harsh lines of her face yielding to a flicker of genuine relief. For the first time in months, she saw a spark in Tariq Al-Khoury that wasn't just passive acceptance of his lot. The fact that he was out, moving through the city with a purpose, shifted something in her chest. "What kind of job?" Layla asked immediately. Her voice lacked its usual icy edge, replaced by a tentative curiosity. Tariq adjusted his stance, his expression remaining neutral and unreadable....