Chapter 53

• Anita’s Pov
• The café on Fifth Street was unusually quiet for the evening hour. I sat by the window, my fingers wrapped around a cup of coffee that had long gone cold. Zach sat beside me, his eyes scanning the room as if he was anticipating trouble. His presence was comforting, though the tension bubbling inside me made it hard to sit still. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this meeting—after everything that had unfolded, part of me wondered if I would even get the clarity I so desperately needed.
• The door to the café opened, and a man in a suit walked in, his briefcase clutched tightly in one hand. He was tall and imposing, with an air of arrogance that made my stomach turn. He spotted me immediately, making a beeline for the table.