Late in the evening at Roman's apartment in New York, their suitcases were half-parked. The mood was tense but warm. They are moving to Manila in a few days.

“I can't believe we're actually going back… Manila feels so far away now.” Alexa said, carefully folding Mateo’s clothes in a suitcase.

“Far away… or dangerous?” Roman asked, leaning against the doorway, watching her with jealousy.

“Both,” Alexa replied, glancing at him briefly while she continued folding.

“But I ...