Mario POV
I’m all dressed and ready, glancing back at my bed where my phone’s buzzing. The screen lights up with the name Alpha Mateo. I wonder what’s up—it’s not every day he calls me directly. I pick up, bracing myself for whatever’s coming.
“Hi, Kiko. What’s up?” His voice is bright, almost annoyingly cheerful. Well, at least he’s not starting off with bad news.
I scratch my neck, trying to match his tone with a bit of humor. “Cotorra, please don’t pull a Joey Tribbiani… Neither of us can turn back the clock, you know?” I chuckle, half expecting him to roll his eyes through the phone.
He laughs, a genuine one, which actually makes me feel a little less tense. “I’ll try harder next time, Kiko. Listen, I’ve asked Cierra and John to meet in my office at 7 a.m. tomorrow. Make sure Jonat
