Sloane POV
The phone buzzed on the iron table, rattling my cold cup of tea. I sat in the garden, secret subsidiary files spread around me like a paper fan. His name flashed on the screen. I let it ring twice before answering.
"Vivienne. How are you, sweetheart? How are the boys?"
"Fine," I said, leaning back against the cold metal chair. "Good. Jasper beat Emmet at chess yesterday, and Emmet cried, and then bit the queen."
Gerald laughed and for a second, I felt it was genuine.
"I'm glad," he said, his breath hitching. "I'm glad you're all well."
I waited, watching a leaf drift down onto the open ledger.
"Vivienne," he exhaled heavily. "Things are moving faster than I anticipated on several fronts."
"Which fronts?"
