Alice was sitting in a café down the estate. One of those quiet, mid-tier places with just enough charm to feel personal, but not enough polish to feel intimidating.
Her phone was in her palm.
Still on the same message.
Priscilla: Come here now!
Followed by a map pin.
Priscilla's messages always carried the weight of a summons, as though she were doing you a favor by not physically dragging you.
But this one was on another level. It was exactly as Alice had expected. Because while Priscilla was on a business trip, she had caused havoc by visiting her Nicholas.
Alice's eyes slid over the address again, thumb brushing the screen. As much as she wanted to go directly to Priscilla, she couldn't. Not yet. There was something else to address first.
She set her phone face down and exhaled.
The chime above the café door rang softly. Her head lifted without much thought.
He was here.
Hardy Cresswell.
