Jay barely slept that night.
The moment he left Roman's office, the conversation replayed inside his head again and again like a stubborn echo that refused to fade. Roman's calm voice, the way he leaned forward across the desk, the quiet certainty behind his words. It wasn't just an offer. It had felt like a trap dressed up as opportunity, the kind that looked attractive until the moment it snapped shut around your throat.
Jay lay on his bed staring at the ceiling of his tiny apartment, one arm behind his head while the other rested over his chest. The room was silent except for the distant sounds of traffic outside the building. Usually he fell asleep the moment his head touched the pillow, exhaustion from work and school knocking him out instantly. Tonight was different. His mind was working too fast.
Roman Ashford had offered to save him.
That part alone was unbelievable.
