"Do you have any other questions?" Dale asked finally, his voice quieter now, watching as she twisted the bracelet on her wrist like it was the only thing grounding her.
Ella looked up at him, her voice hesitant. "What about… the men that you mentioned? My vice? How will that work?
Dale exhaled, and leaned back in his chair. He wasn't sure why this part made him feel so uncomfortable. Maybe it was the way she looked—like someone who still believed in decency or those romantic happy ever afters, even after everything. Or maybe it was the knowledge that, in a way, he was about to teach her how to weaponize her own perceived innocence.
He rubbed his jaw, then met her gaze squarely. "Alright. Let me be direct."
She nodded once, bracing herself.
