Three days passed in a careful dance. Connor texted constantly—good morning messages, dinner invitations, casual check-ins. Valentina responded just enough to keep him interested without seeming too eager.
She visited Duke once during that time. The guard led her to a small room divided by plexiglass, phones on either side for conversation.
Duke looked thinner, his eyes hollow. When he saw her, something in his expression broke and mended all at once.
"Valentine." His voice cracked through the phone. "I didn't think you'd come."
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Because I'm here. Because Connor—" He stopped, jaw working. "Because I'm going to prison and you should save yourself while you can."
"Is that what you want? For me to leave?"
"No." The admission cost him. "But it's what you should do."
V
