Nathaniel looked down at the burner phone his fingers held.

The text cut through him.

> "It's time to talk."

Leya.

He breathed slowly, shoving back from the edge of the bar, pulling on his hair with his fingers. City lights late at night glow in front of the penthouse windows of the high-end club, but he was already lost in his head.

She was not afraid.

He had once appreciated that. Respect had boundaries, and Leya had gone beyond all of them.

He weighed his options.

> ...