Chapter 161

Eli stands near the edge of the dining room with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the family move through what should have been a normal Monday breakfast. Lucia has not said a single word to either of her parents since the night of the attack. She pushes eggs around her plate with the tip of her fork, keeping her expression carefully blank. David sits at the head of the table, quieter than usual. He takes a few bites of toast, checks his phone twice, and finally sets his napkin down.

“There’s an emergency at the office,” he says. “I’ll be back by evening.”

Lucas looks up. “But you always say Sunday and Monday are–”

“Eat your toast, bud,” David says, already pushing back his chair.

Nora’s hand tightens around her juice glass. “David.”

“It won’t take long,” he says, and kisses her cheek as he passes, his footsteps receding down the corridor.

The table sits with that for a moment.

“Right,” Tyler says to no one, and goes back to hi