I swiped the screen instantly, pressing it to my ear.

“Alina?” I whispered, my voice barely a breath.

“Mara, thank god,” her voice gasped through heavy static.

“Listen to me carefully.”

“The line is breaking up,” I said, looking toward my bedroom door. “What is happening?”

“The man from the restaurant,” Alina said, her voice shaking. “The abusive patron.”

“The one who grabbed my arm?”

“Yes,” she said. “He is Julian Vance.”

“Viktor Vance’s nephew.”

My breath caught in my throat.

Viktor Vance was the head of the rival syndicate, the ones who disputed Lucian’s territory.

“They think you targeted him,” Alina whispered.

“They think your little scene with the soup was a distraction so Lucian’s men could steal their shipping manifests.”

“That is insane,” I said. “I just spilled it because he wouldn’t let go of me.”

“They do not care about the truth,” Alina said.

“They want you, Mara.”

“If they get you, they can force Lucian to give up the harbor docks.”

“Someone in the restaurant told them you were at the estate.”

“You need to get out of there right now.”