David
The coffee shop is quiet, tucked away in a less-crowded street in Manhattan. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t attract much attention—just how I wanted it. The bell jingles as the door opens, and I look up from my untouched espresso to see him.
Ethan.
Scarlet’s brother hasn’t changed much over the years. His dark hair is streaked with hints of gray now, but his sharp eyes remain the same—piercing, unreadable. He spots me, hesitation flickering across his face before he makes his way to the table.
“This is a surprise,” Ethan says as he sits across from me. “I never thought I’d see the day David Thompson called me for a meet-up.”
I smirk slightly. “I suppose I surprise myself too.”
He eyes me carefully, and I can tell he’s searching for something—maybe the same arrogance I used
