Just when Jairo thought she wouldn't pick up, Kara finally answered.
"Hey," her soft voice came through the line.
She sounded calm, almost normal, but he could hear the hesitation beneath her words. He had been trained to pick up on fear, doubt and weakness. And right now, she was all of those things, even if she tried to hide it.
He stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes roaming over his penthouse, but not really seeing it. His gaze lingered on the garden outside, the flowers would have been watered by certain person only if she was alive.
He could almost picture her smile, the one she carried even when her face bore fresh bruises. He let out a breath, dragging a hand down his face.
"Are you there?" Kara's voice pulled him back.
"Yeah," he sighed, then paused before adding, "I got sho
