CLAIRE

Ethan looked older than he had a week ago.

Not dramatically. He still wore the same expensive coat, the same watch, the same careful haircut. But something in his face had changed. The confidence was gone. So was that effortless warmth he use

CLAIRE

I answered on the fourth ring.

"Hey."

Roman was quiet for half a second. "You okay?"

I looked at the closed door Ethan had just walked through. "He came by."

Roman didn't ask who. He knew.

"How bad?"

"Not bad."

That surprised me as I said it. "Just... final.

CLAIRE

I stared at my phone for exactly thirty seconds, then picked it up. Not to call Roman. Not yet. I opened our messages instead.

The last one was three weeks old.

**Roman:** Three weeks. You call if there's actual trouble.

Under it, my reply.

**Claire