The image landed hard. A mother clinging to the sound of a son’s voice. Waiting for a phone that might never ring.
I ached for her. And then—before I could stop it—for him.
“I don’t have any siblings,” I admitted, another small truth slipping out. “Besides Candace,” I corrected.
He nodded, expression easing. “Candace is a good friend.” He corrected himself. “Well—sister.”
“She is,” I said.
“My brother and I used to fight like madmen. They say girls are worse,” he teased.
The memory of our last argument at Nona’s flashed—voices raised, feelings bruised but not broken. “You can say that again.”
His smile faded. “What do you think she’ll say about this?”
A dry, bitter laugh broke free. “She’s going to be pissed. Like—put-a-hit-out-on-you pissed.”
He winced. “I deserve that. Do you think I’ll get the chance to apologize to her?”
I rolled my shoulders, tension crackling through me, the unspoken question beneath his words echoing louder than the one he’d asked. “I don’t know.”
He met my gaze—questions flickering there, none I could bear to answer.
“I understand,” he said finally, reaching for his glass and taking a heavy gulp. He hissed through his teeth—the same sound he’d made slurping scalding coffee yesterday morning.
The memory flickered. Unwanted. Too familiar.
“What are we going to do about the merger?” I blurted.
He froze, drink hovering halfway to the table.
“Falkirk and Elion are separate from whatever—” He exhaled. “This is. Like I said earlier, I was interested in your company first. Then you. I still believe Elion would be good for us—that we’d both benefit.”
“You know the position I’m in now,” I cut in—sharper than intended.
“Yes,” he said. “And I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
“How can I trust you not to use my secrets as leverage, Damien?” I demanded, the words tumbling out before I could temper them. “You could destroy me—destroy Elion.” My voice cracked on the last word.
“I know where you’re coming from,” he said, leaning forward, elbows braced on the table. “I’ve hurt you—broken your trust into a thousand pieces. But regardless of what you feel for me right now, I won’t use anything you’ve told me against you. I know what Elion means to you—how much you care about your people.”
I searched his face for the lie. The angle. The manipulation I’d been bracing for since the truth broke open.
But I found nothing.
“I want to believe you,” I said. “I really do.”
“Then let me prove it to you.”
My eyes burned. Tears threatened again. “Ugh.” I pressed my palms into my face until stars sparked behind my eyelids. “Why did you have to do this? Why couldn’t you have just been Read?”
“I am Read,” he murmured—almost to himself.
“I don’t know about that.” I looked at him head-on. My heart froze despite the whiskey’s warmth.
“Then let me prove it to you,” he repeated, voice steadier this time.
“How?” The word burst out of me, too loud in the hush of the restaurant.
