Page 119 of This Life of Mine

Alex watches me carefully, like he’s reassessing a calculation.

“I’m not naïve,” I say. “I’ve lived with monsters. I know what real evil looks like. And I don’t lose sleep over people like that facing consequences.”

I step closer, not into his space, but into the conversation.

“I don’t need you to be someone who saves me,” I tell him. “I need you to be honest. In every way.”

He nods once with acceptance.

“Then we do this together,” Alex says. “Eyes open.”

“Okay,” I reply.

I watch Alex pull his phone from the dresser—like this is another decision he’s already made.

He doesn’t look at me when he dials.

“Reese,” he says when the call connects. No greeting. No filler. “I have him.”

A pause.

“I need a location. Somewhere contained.” His voice is calm, but there’s steel underneath it.

I lean against the doorway, arms folded tight around myself, listening, watching him shift fully into command. Whatever version of Alex I met at the shop, whatever softness existed over dinner. It all steps aside for this version.

Reese says something I can’t hear.

“Good,” Alex replies. “Send the coordinates.”

Another pause.

“I’ll be ready when they arrive,” Alex says.

He ends the call and turns to me.

“I have a transport team in route,” he says. “Reese has a place mapped out. A van will pull up out front and take him.”

The efficiency of it all makes my stomach roll. The weight of knowing what comes next feels heavy.

I’ve decided to be informed. That doesn’t mean I need to witness everything.

“You have to stay back,” Alex continues, softer now.

I nod.

“I’m not going. I won’t fight you on that,” I say, before he can worry I might argue. “I don’t think I have the stomach for…whatever you’re going to do.”

He studies my face, then nods. “That’s not weakness. That’s knowing your line.”

Relief washes through me.

“I’ll handle this,” he says.

I swallow and glance toward the hallway, toward the man tied to a chair, still trying to wiggle his way free.

“Are you going to kill him?” I ask.

He hesitates, watching me. “Yes,” he replies.