Like I’d been waiting for her call.
Like hearing her voice—shaky, nervous, apologetic—was something Ineeded.
I didn’t want to examine what that meant.
I didn’t want to think about the fact that I’d been in the middle of reviewing territory reports when her name lit up my phone, and I’d dropped everything without hesitation.
I didn’t want to think about the fact that I’d called Dr. Chen before Truth even finished explaining what was wrong.
This was supposed to be a contract. All this extra shit I was doing fucked with me.
But somewhere between the interview and last night, the lines had blurred.
And I didn’t know how to draw them back.
The sound of the front door opening pulled me out of my thoughts.
Footsteps in the hallway.
Then Priest appeared in the doorway, holding a coffee and a folder.
He stopped when he saw me.
Looked at me standing by the window.
Looked at the phone on the coffee table.
Looked back at me.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Fine.”
Priest didn’t move. Just stood there, studying me with that sharp, assessing gaze that missed nothing.
“You sure about that?”
“I said I’m fine.”
He didn’t believe me.
I could see it in the way his jaw tightened, the way his eyes flicked to the phone again.
But he didn’t push.
“Dock reports are in the folder,” he finally said. “Rahsaan’s people backed off after last week. No movement.”
“Good.”
“Anything else you need?”
“No.”
Priest nodded slowly. Set the folder on the side table.
Then, he left.
The silence settled back over the room like a weight.
