Roman’s phone buzzed in his pocket as he stood in the clinic hallway. He glanced at the screen. It was his mother.

He almost ignored it. Almost. But she never called twice without a reason.

“Roman,” Salima’s voice was sharp. “Where are you? You barged out of the house like it was burning. What happened?”

His throat tightened. He couldn’t tell her what Tessa had planned. “Something came up. I’m handling it.”

There was a pause. Then her tone shifted.“You had one job. To keep that girl under control.”

Roman shut his eyes, pressing the bridge of his nose. “I said I’m handling it, Mom.”

“You better be,” she hissed....