Dustin's POV
“All right, Ryan, thank you so much. Continue keeping an eye on her, make sure she has all the support she needs—and remember, she mustn’t know that I’m behind this.” I ended the call and set my phone down, feeling the weight of my plans begin to lift as they took form.
Mercy sat across from me, her gaze full of equal parts concern and curiosity. She’d been a lifeline, helping to keep an eye on Ariana, but I could tell she was growing increasingly worried about how things were unfolding.
“Have you been in touch with Ariana?” I asked, leaning forward. “Do you plan to visit her soon?”
She paused, her fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the table as if she were calculating her response. “I’ve been considering it. I thought I might make a trip to Maplewood soon. I haven’t
