-ALEC-

“I never thought I’d need to return to this place.”

“Hm?” Leena looks at me from across the dingy table, eyes scanning the room like she’s on high alert, it’s sweet, but it’s not her battle to be fighting. Guilt rises like bile in my throat at her determined expression.

“When I stopped here years ago,” I catch her eyes with my own and hold one of her hands on the table, finding the courage to continue, “It wasn’t a good ...