"Why are you acting as though you're responsible for her?"
Raymond's expression didn't change. But something dark flickered behind his eyes. "Because I am."
Phoebe's blood ran cold.
The urge to threaten Raymond right then and there clawed violently at the back of her throat. Phoebe wanted nothing more than to unearth every single truth, to expose the chaos, but she was utterly paralyzed by her own physical limits. Her listless, exhausted eyes could only lock a sharp, lethal glare onto him, processing her fury in total silence.
Amidst the suffocating quiet, Raymond's device suddenly vibrated, cutting through the standoff. He glanced down at the caller ID. He was certain the incoming connection was highly prioritized; his private network was strictly programmed to suppress ringtones for anyone who didn't command global importance. Yet, seeing the specific name flashing across the glass caused a faint hiss of irritation to escape his lips.
