The space between us

Nyx’s POV

Saturday burned itself into my memory like fire.

I had gone expecting only a quiet meal, maybe another one of Renz’s tests to see how far I would bend into his world. Instead, he shattered every line of thought I had prepared. The car gleamed in the sunlight like something out of a dream, and when he pressed the keys into my palm, my breath caught. He didn’t just give me a machine—he carved me a place in his empire, signing my name into a world I never thought I belonged in.

“An official racer,” he said, like it was the easiest thing in the world.

My chest swelled, my heart racing faster than any engine. For a moment, I forgot everything else—Rynna, secrets, doubts. I was only a girl standing in front of a man who saw something in her worth investing in.

For a while, I floated, carried by the rush of it all. But the high broke when he mentioned he’d be leaving for a few days. His voice was casual, steady. “Marco’s around if you need anything.”

I should’ve smiled,