ANNA'S POV
The house was quiet when I got home. Elias was asleep. Nina stood on the landing, not the door.
"He asked about the man again."
I stopped on the stairs. "What did you tell him?"
"The same thing. That I didn't know who he was talking about." She looked at me. "He's not going to forget, Anna."
"I know."
I went up to my room. The formal request letter still sat in the drawer.
I didn't open it.
My phone buzzed. Mateo.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"Did Luca find you?"
"Yes."
"What did he want?"
"The same thing he's always wanted."
"And you?"
"I didn't give him anything."
He didn't push. He never did. "Call me if anything escalates."
"I will."
-----
Ralph's revised proposal sat open on my screen when the phone rang.
I looked at the name a moment.
"Anna. I hope I'm not
