Page 66 of Reign

“What if Elena says no?”

Adriana exhales like she’s already won. “She won’t if I make it sound practical.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

Adriana sighs. “Then ask her when she lands. I’m arranging an option, Luciano. Not an abduction.”

I let the silence stretch long enough to irritate my sister.

“Fine.”

Adriana exhales in relief. “Thank you.”

“Don’t tell me I owe you anything ever again.”

I end the call before she can answer.

For a moment, I don’t move.

The house is quiet around me.

Elena Amato is flying in tomorrow.

Tomorrow night, the woman who has occupied three months of thought and one locked drawer will sleep under my roof.

Lena A. is still open on my screen.

I sit back down.

I should close the inquiry.

I should assign it to membership with the rest of them and remove myself from every part of this process before I turn one mistake into a pattern.

Instead, I click the file again and skim through it.

If this is Elena, she isn’t only curious.

She’s testing a door.

And if it isn’t Elena, then I’m about to waste thirty seconds on a prospective member who will be handled by staff after the next step.

That’s what I tell myself.

It’s almost convincing.

I select the follow-up questionnaire from the secure template folder.

Hard limits. Soft limits. Experience level. Preferred structure. Preferred contact method.

My cursor hovers over send.

If I send it, I’m no longer standing on the other side of the door watching Elena test the handle.

I’m opening it.

I send the questionnaire.

The screen confirms delivery.