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“I need to disappear before he finds me,” Krystal muttered, spinning to face Darren. “Book flights. We’re disappearing tonight!”

***

Across town, sharp, heavy knocks pounded on the door of a modest apartment in a quiet middle-class building. The echo bounced down the hallway until the door swung open.

Lorenzo stood outside a nondescript flat, fists tight, jaw ticking.

The door opened.

“Krysta—”

Lorenzo was already halfway through stepping inside when he froze.

A large, burly man stood in the doorway, eyes narrowed, face tight with annoyance. “What?!”

“Hi. Good day, sir,” Xander said politely, stepping forward. “May I ask who you are? We’re looking for the woman who lives here.”

“I’ve been living here for over three years. What woman?” the man snapped, then slammed the door shut in their faces.

Lorenzo turned to Xander, his face like thunder.

Xander looked shaken but explained quickly. “This is the only address listed under her name, Mr. Moretti.”

Lorenzo’s jaw clenched so hard it ached. He turned away from the door, letting out a sharp growl.

“This damn woman’s going to make me kill someone,” he muttered under his breath.

Straightening, he rolled his shoulders back and looked around the hallway, tension crackling off him.

“You lied so much, Krystal,” he muttered to himself. “And still, you managed to hide so damn well?”

***

“Are you ready to leave?” Darren asked, dragging his suitcase into the living room.

“Yeah. Grab the passports from the table,” Krystal called out, rolling her packed suitcase behind her.

“Let’s go,” Darren muttered, grabbing his phone and the passports, and heading out the door.

Krystal followed silently.

The door of the flat slammed shut behind them.

Just then, her phone started ringing in her hand. She glanced down at the screen.

“Why is Damion calling me at this hour?” she mumbled in confusion. Curious, she answered it right away.

“Hello?”

“So youdopick up the damn phone. You only blocked me, huh?”

The growl on the other end was deep and furious—seething like fire barely contained.

Krystal flinched, almost dropping the phone. She quickly glanced at Xander, worry flashing in her eyes, then stiffened in frustration. "Why is it you? Where’s Damion?"

"I’ve called you over and over, and you don’t answer. Buthecalls, and you pick up in seconds?" Lorenzo snarled, his voice like a seething bark.

Her grip tightened around the suitcase. She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “Lorenzo, what are you doing? How did you get Damion’s phone?”