"Hands against the wall, now," the guard barked, shoving Rachel into the dimly lit cell. She stumbled forward, her palms slapping against the cold concrete. Behind her, Liam hesitated, his broad shoulders tense as he glanced at the guard. "You heard him," Rachel muttered, her voice low but sharp. "Don't make this worse than it already is."

Rachel was lean but strong, her dark hair pulled into a messy bun that had started to unravel. Her olive-toned skin glistened with sweat, and her piercing green eyes darted around the cell, calculating. Liam, towering over her with his muscular frame, had a rugged handsomeness that was hard to ignore, even in this grim setting. His jaw was clenched, and his blue eyes flicked nervously toward the barred door.

The guard slammed the door shut, the metallic clang echoing through the corridor. Rachel turned to face Liam, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Well," she said, crossing her arms, "looks like it's just you and me now." Liam swallowed hard, his gaze lingering on her for a moment too long. "Yeah," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just us."