Chapter 6 - THE NIGHT KALANTHA DISAPPEARED
Kalantha left New York the following morning.
Not because she was running.
Because she needed space.
She booked a train to Boston.
Checked into a small hotel.
Turned off her phone.
And spent two days walking through museums.
For the first time in years, she was somewhere Declan hadn't chosen.
Somewhere nobody expected her.
Declan learned she'd taken a trip through a brief message she sent to Leo.
He didn't demand her location.
Didn't send men after her.
Didn't call repeatedly.
He waited.
On the third evening, Kalantha turned her phone back on.
There was one message from Declan.
I hope you're safe. You don't need to tell me where you are. When you're ready, I'd like to explain everything.
She stared.
Then smiled sadly.
She called him.
He answered immediately.
“Kalantha.”
“Hello.”
His voice softened.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
Then he said:
“Good.”
Kalantha looked toward the harbor.
“Declan?”
“Yes?”
“Why did you keep those photographs?”
He was silent.
Then said:
“Because I was investigating the people threatening your family.”
She swallowed.
“And why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I thought knowing would frighten you.”
Kalantha laughed bitterly.
“Instead, you frightened me.”
Declan closed his eyes.
“I know.”
She looked toward the water.
“I need the whole truth.”
He nodded.
“You'll have it.”
When she returned to New York, Declan gave her access to the relevant records.
He answered her questions.
He admitted where he'd made mistakes.
May you like
And he didn't ask her to forgive him immediately.
For the first time, Kalantha began to believe that perhaps he was capable of change.
