Fadel’s POV

My voice came out sharper than I meant, saltiness bleeding through every syllable.

“Where the fuck did you keep your phone, huh? Inside the belly of a beast?”

“I was sleeping,” she said, flat as a dry slap.

My jaw clenched. I was seconds away from losing it when her tone suddenly shifted, softening like she knew exactly how close I was to snapping.

“I am sorry,” she said quietly. “I was just… sad that you left me.”

Everything in me stilled.

A smile pulled at my ...