Nikolai

Yeah. Letting Alyssa call Nina was a mistake.

She's pacing the room like her skin's too tight, her lip trapped between her teeth, the burner phone pressed to her ear with shaking fingers.

"Hey, Nina. Umm...how is she doing?"

I glance at King. Then Mason. Then War.

We're all bracing for it—waiting for it. The moment she breaks down again.

"D-Did she ask about us this morning?"

Fuck. Don't ask that.

I drag a hand down my ...