“Chloe?” Noah leaned closer, concern etched on his face. “What is wrong?”

She blinked rapidly, desperately trying to mask the turmoil inside her. Her heart raced, pounding so loudly that it almost drowned out the restaurant's ambient chatter. “I… um…”

Another buzz from her phone sent a jolt of anxiety through her. She didn’t even need to glance at the screen; she already knew who it was.

Valerius.

The walls of the elegant restaurant suddenly felt too close, the ...