Lucian squinted his eyes as he noticed immediately how Rowan's entire demeanor shifted the moment he looked at his phone screen.
He could see how sharply the warmth that had been building between them all day drained from Rowan's face like water through a sieve.
Rowan's shoulders tensed, his jaw locked and that cold, distant mask started sliding back into place as his thumb hovered over the answer button.
Lucian saw something flicker in his eyes... Something like resignation bore out of fear.
He remembered that was exactly how Rowan had looked when his mother called last time. Trusting his instincts so badly that this again was about his family, Lucian instantly made a decision.
Before Rowan could answer the call, Lucian's hand shot out and snatched the phone right out of Rowan's grip.
"What---" Rowan started, his eyes widening in shock.
But Lucian had already ended the call with a decisive swipe and shoved the phone into his own pocket.
