The door clicked shut, the sound soft but final, sealing Estelle inside the room once more. Silence followed.
She turned her head toward the small window high on the wall, her pulse quickening as she stared at the thin strip of light filtering through. For a moment, just a moment, hope stirred.
Maybe she would see him. Maybe somehow, impossibly, Roman would be there. But the window remained empty.
Slowly, she pulled her gaze away and drew in a deep breath, steadying herself. The air felt cool against her lungs as she let it out, trying to quiet the restless thrum in her chest.
That was when she saw it. The briefcase. It sat on the table a few inches from her bed, dark and solid, almost ordinary, except for what lay beside it. A phone. Noah's phone.
Her pulse spiked, loud in her ears. This was it. An opportunity. Maybe the only one she would get.
