MICHAEL

“What did you promise him?”

Aliana asks again as Collins drives us past the mall.

A soft sound comes from her throat filling our spaces in the silence.

A grin pulls at the corner of my mouth while I watch the pavement roll by. My answer slips out quiet "It's a secret".

Sliding sideways in the seat, Aliana looks my way. Her eyes press against me like hands. "King willingly drags Evera and others away, tsk...I know him, he's a capitalist and wouldn't do anything for free."

My laughter comes out stiff, stuck near my chest. That image of King - so grim, that little handshake, the whole ruin-of-my-savings...