At the port. Alexander Barron stared at the phone screen, eyes filled with hope, but his clenched jaw betrayed his anxiety. This was already the fifth time he’d tried calling Summer Knight. But each time, all he got was the same robotic tone and message. “The person you’re calling is currently unavailable. Please try again later.” No surprise—this time was no different. After yet another failed attempt, Alexander finally gave up trying. Maybe Summer had lost her phone. Still, he didn’t close the dial screen. Instead, he tapped on a number he hadn’t called in a long time. It didn’t take long for the other end to pick up. “Alexander?” A warm male voice filtered through, polite and calm, but if you listened closely, there was a faint hint of restrained excitement.

