"You can't trust your grandfather."
I closed my eyes.
"Is that why you called?"
"What makes you think I'll believe anything you say after everything you've done?"
"What makes you think your grandfather is going to let Ethan walk away after everything he saw tonight?"
The question landed harder than I expected.
"He promised me."
"My grandfather said Ethan would be fine as long as he kept his mouth shut."
Kuro let out a dry laugh that quickly dissolved into a cough.
"You've known Ethan longer than I have."
His breathing grew heavier.
"So answer me honestly."
"Do you really believe he'll stay silent?"
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because I already knew the answer.
My thoughts drifted back to college.
Not to one specific day, but dozens of them.
The first-year graphic design student who had been cornered by a group of seniors after submitting work they wanted to steal.
Most people had walked past.
Ethan hadn't.
