nce, casting long shadows over the quiet street where Lena's café sat. But his focus wasn't on the peaceful hum

ind the counter, her hands wrapped around a coffee cup, fingers drumming lightly against the ceramic - a

aking her trance. She looked up, and for the briefest

, replaced by the guarded expres

marked, her voice steady b

by the window, leaning back."

ng her head. "I own the place.

smoothly, watching her reac

ned around the cup

r gaze flickered toward the front door as if expecting someone. The man from

other owe?" he asked,

body tensed.

tone sharper now. "I know who Moretti is. And I

e swallowed. "It's not

d. "I decide wha

m, heavy and unyielding. Then, Lena sighed,

, her voice barely above a whisper. "W

was already calculating. Sixty thousand wasn't an astronomical su

ent plans," he said. "Yo

ze dropping to the

ad, something fierce in her eyes. "But

You don't have a choice, Lena. Because whether you li

apped taut like a wire ready to break. Lena stiffened. Alexander's ey

ace. He wasn't as burly as the brawler from before, but something about him f

a Ca

her sides, but she lifted her c

person, but he had heard the name before. A collector. A man

his eyes. "Just a friendly check-in. Y

se, forcing herself to stay

nder, finally acknowledging his p

and unwavering. "Someone who d

idn't quite reach his expression. "Caref

is head. "That's w

face. He knew exactly who Alexander was - B

have three days. After that, Moret

t she didn't flinch.

d, satisfied.

ot to break the man's nose right there. Instead, he leane

oretti

brow. "And why

se I s

him, weighing his options. Then, with a

ed out, the door shutting behi

n the café, thick

ipping the counter for support.

his cuffs. "You should ha

thing unreadable swimmin

hat she had to tilt her head to

ed. "And if I do

gleam in his eyes. "Too bad,

tly, voice a whisp

ver l