KENDRA
Sleep never came that night.
The message on my phone still sat unanswered, glowing like a wound.
I hadn’t told Pascal that it had come from an untraceable number. Every time I’d tried to call back, it disconnected before ringing. Whoever sent it knew exactly how to stay hidden.
By midmorning, I’d convinced myself I couldn’t sit still anymore.
I needed answers. I pulled on a black trench coat and twisted my hair into a loose knot. My reflection in the mirror looked steadier than I felt.
When I left the mansion, the air outside was heavy with moisture. I drove aimlessly for a while. I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for until I passed a café I hadn’t seen in years.
It was the same one Ethan used to frequent.
I parked a block away and told myself it was coincidence. That
