Chapter 7 - THE SHIFT
They spent the night bleeding out in a safe house above an abandoned laundromat. Harper dug the bullet out of Roman’s shoulder with a sterilized paring knife and a bottle of cheap whiskey. The silence between them had changed; the hostility had burned away in the crossfire, leaving behind a stark, undeniable respect. "Why didn't you leave me?" he asked, his voice strained with pain, watching her tape the bandage down. "Because I don't owe you anything anymore," she replied, wiping the blood from her hands. "Now we're even." Roman looked at her, really looked at her, seeing past the grease and the diner apron to the iron core beneath. He reached out with his good arm, gently pulling her bruised hand into his.
