sia'

-Dad,

my ribs it hurt. My sheets were twisted around my legs, damp with my own

am clun

ands on the steering wheel, shaking and my mother's

up from my nightmare, thankful for that but

wn nu

before answe

, smooth and dangero

nded certain,

piked. "Wh

ief

or you," the man said quietly

d before I co

e as my thoughts wandered toward the few people who knew

kable sound of a car moving. I staggered to the window just in

ort as my legs were shaking and my he

fé that morning was the kind of silence that mad

in the air onl

coffee beans and vanilla syrup wrapping around me. This place had become my s

ively at the window, staring into the street for as long

ng un

e feeling

hing me, the feeling was too

chine, lining up pastries behind the glass. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, my mind

the man on the other end with a commandin

's been loo

und a porcelain cup wi

muttered to myself and cont

through my thoughts. My heart jumped before I could sto

walk

it looked tailored onto his body. He wore no tie, just an open collar revealing a hint of tanne

cust

rst thing my in

e. His sharp, assessing eyes swept the room on

hen-o

it like

and stepped forward. This

ked, forcing a smile, tryi

s accent was faintly It

g righ

el him watching me-my movements, my posture, the way my fing

, our eyes met. I held his gaze deliber

flickered

gnit

o

ulat

e four eur

unter, his fingers brushing

chills dow

change," h

my hand back as

, positioning himself so he could see the street. He

ened with each

and relief flooded me. I let out a br

fi

k hair loose around her shoulders with o

ved me a croissant," s

spite mysel

, lowering her voice. "You

the few people who could see through me.

ked past me,

king Prada ad stari

t she meant but I still preten

ou mean?"

the window table. "Him. Black suit

loud made my fear real. I had been

s watching

mach d

lips curved slightly. Not a smile

now him,"

uttered. "That'

t of his espresso. As he turned toward t

no apolo

war

int

chimed as

d. "Okay. Th

s were

ir," I said, a

ic, life continuing as if nothing had changed. But

dialed my aunt before I

n the second r

llowing me," I said, t

le

y, "What makes

atched me the entire time. And last night, I received a

ning this?" Lucia asked, thou

feels deliberate, like some

her

aid slowly, "stay with Sofi

who this coul

nce

lo

f someone is watching you, it

crept up

you later

a added. "Promi

ha

te and please be careful, the c

all e

t as a black car rolle

d win

same

slo

us

drove

lently, just like it

this tim

er he

oming ba