ngering by my packed bags. Pulling out my pho

lunch. I have critical informatio

as the delivery recei

g minutes. The read re

the social media tracker. Elena had just

thirty seconds ago: "Got your

ng before my eyes. The air in my lungs felt thick

ied my message. I pasted it directly un

my comment vanished

buzzed in my palm. A text from Vincen

face entirely and dialed

tone clipped and irritated. "What is

ink of metal against ceramic punctuated my words. "Meet me at twelve-thirty at the Italian restaurant acr

reply, severing the conn

estaurant. The perimeter was heavily guarded by our sol

shadowed booth in the b

, the heavy glass front doo

diers at the door dipped their heads in deferen

I saw

med a fragile, alien thing in this world of ours. She looked small next to

t slid into the seat across fro

to him, pressing herself into his s

hy and high. "I saw the comments earlier. I

on Vincent. My face was a ma

n this,

dark hair. "I had to secure Elena's transport fir

ng the tension but masking

r, not breaking eye contact with Vincent. "An

he warm water request, but he

y against his shoulder. "We should share the

anced at me. The cold, unforgiving

g slightly away from her touch.

rt order, and I ate in

about movies and gossiped about rival territ

, leaning in when she spoke, offering her the

chemistry Vincent and I used to share, a bitt

water. I watched them as if I were o

napkin. He finally looked at me, th

"What was the crit

looked at the woman sittin

Meant for your ears only. Since you broug

drew a hundred-dollar bill from my pocket and let it

s brow furrowed, and a brief flash of guilt f

sport," I said, my tone leaving no

, trying to grab my hand in

watching as his fingers

Vincent said, his voice lower now, laced with an un

d walked out of the restaurant, leaving

r of the sprawling living room, staring at the cold f

silent halls, committing the chill of this place to

the foyer where i

ases perfectly with the edge of the m