‘Too little, too late. Should have figured out what you had when it was still yours. It isn’t anymore. You gave me my freedom, and I’m not handing it back. We’re going around in circles, so maybe admit defeat and leave.’ I shake my head at him, trying to ignore the pain in my gut from his words and pray Mico comes and takes him away soon.

Alexi keeps staring at me relentlessly with that infuriatingly unreadable face. Despite all he has been, I don’t have the fear I used to ...