Alexander's POV:

The villa lights are blazing from half a block away.

Every window on the ground floor. The exterior columns. The garden path lamps. All of it, burning like someone decided tonight warranted a declaration.

I sit with that for exactly two seconds in the back of the car.

'Mother,' Anthony says, flat.

'And Nina,' I add.

He makes a sound that is not disagreement.

Karl pulls into the ...