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“Well, he didn’t make it up. It seems the amnesia I had after a bad car accident years ago was worse than I realized. He showed me a box full of letters I wrote him, Evie. I know my writing—the notes are from me, but I have no memory of them. No memory of any of it.”

“Oh, Isa, that’s heartbreaking for both of you.” She squeezes my hand in compassionate solidarity.

“He’s been avoiding me after showing me the letters and seeing that I still didn’t remember. I tried to talk to him about it last night and—” My throat squeezes tight at the memory, and tears threaten to spill over. “He was too upset—even more upset than when he first showed me the notes. He refused to talk and walked out. Now…” My words fade as emotions clog my throat.

“Now you’re worried he’s putting himself in danger when his mind isn’t fully focused on the mission,” she continues for me, correctly assessing my concern.

“Yeah.” The word is nothing but a shaky whisp of air.

Evie wraps her arms around me, and we sit for long seconds comforting one another. When she pulls away and suggests we watch a movie to help distract us, I follow her lead. I have no better ideas. While we watch, however, my thoughts remain glued to Elio.

What if he gets hurt? What if he’s killed before I can tell him that I don’t need the letters or the past to have feelings for him?

“Do you know when this take-down or meeting is supposed to happen?” I blurt mid-movie.

Evie sits taller and pauses the show. “Not until one, I think.”

Two more hours. There’s still time.

“Do you have his number?”

She grimaces. “No, but we can try Michael.”

“Yes, please. I’d feel so much better if I could talk to him before they do anything dangerous.”

She places the call. “Hey, I’m sorry to interrupt. Is Elio nearby?” She rolls her eyes. “It’s for Isa, not me, you jealous buffoon.” Her words are teasing, and his response tugs her rosebud lips into a coy smile, though it craters quickly. “Oh, that’s too bad. She really wants to talk to him.”

I have to look away to hide the disappointment in my gaze, but when I do, I notice something familiar on the bar across the room. My heart sinks deep into the frigid waters beneath the boat. I hurry over and confirm my suspicions, taking the object back to the sofa to show Evie.

Her gaze takes in Elio’s karambit blade before determination squares her jaw.

“He can text but not talk?” she continues, nodding as she listens to Michael’s explanation. “Oh, okay. How do they know which elevator he’ll use?” More nodding. “Only one, huh. Like my old office building … I guess he isn’t choosy about his dentist if the guy is housed in an old building … Yeah, cheap rent … Oh? I didn’t realize they had a medical complex over there … All three buildings? But you know which one he’ll be at … Building B is primarily non-emergent, gotcha.” The grin that splits her face is surprisingly deviant. “Alright, baby. You guys be safe. Love you, too.”

“He left his knife here,” I say in a thin voice. “I know he has other weapons, but this goes to show how deeply distracted he is. Eves, I’m so worried.”

“Agreed, which is why I have a plan.”

I study her, my eyes narrowing. “What plan?”

“Elio is in an elevator shaft and can’t take calls, but he can text. I can only assume, with how important this sounds, that text is not going to cut it.” Delicate auburn brows rise on her porcelain forehead in question.

“Definitely not ideal.”

She nods. “But if you were to take a ride on that elevator and Elio could hear you, then you’d get your message across and be out of there before things happen.”

“You’d really help me do that?” I ask in awe.

Evie’s smile is a warm blanket on a frosty autumn day. “You care deeply for Elio—and it sounds like you always have. It’s obvious to everyone how much he adores you. I want to help you two find one another again. But you have to promise me you’ll be overly cautious. None of this achieves anything if you end up dead or captured.”

I throw my arms around her. “Oh my God. Thank you.”

Her hug is ultra brief. “You’re welcome, but we don’t have time for that. We need to figure out how to get you ashore.”

“I know how.”

“Oh yeah?”

I fight back a guilty smile. “I noted the phone number of the boat taxi that took us to your birthday dinner. I figured it might come in handy.”