The warmth of Jayden's hand surrounding hers did little to chase away the chill settling in Sarah's chest. His thumb stroked the back of her knuckles in a slow, rhythmic motion that felt less like comfort and more like an anchor tying her to his spot. He leaned in slightly across the white linen tablecloth, his gaze burning into hers with absolute certainty.
"Listen to me, Sarah," Jayden said, his voice dropping to a low, commanding register. "I promise you, I will find them. If those people in the dossier are your birth parents, I will locate them no matter where they are hiding. But you need to understand one thing very clearly: you cannot trust Keith. You cannot rely on a single word that comes out of his mouth, nor can you follow any advice he gives you."
