A chill ran down my spine. Then, the unmistakable click of the door behind me slamming shut, followed by the cold, metallic scrape of the lock falling into place, rang through the room. The sound was so final, so deliberate, it made my blood run cold. I spun around, my heart racing, my hands sha
Alexander's POV Seeing Lauren crumpled on the cold floor, pale and trembling, hit me harder than I could have imagined. My knees buckled as I dropped down beside her, my hands finding their way into her soft hair, cradling her head as if that alone could hold her together. Her chest rose and fel
Her words, calm and final, felt like a door slamming shut in my face. Without waiting for a response, she let Liam carry her down the hall, his quiet voice murmuring reassurances I couldn’t make out. The sound of their footsteps faded, leaving me alone in the empty corridor. By the time I stumbl
Lauren's POV The hospital lights buzzed faintly overhead, their sterile glow reflecting off the glossy tiles and making the air feel colder than it was. My skin prickled as I stood near the window, the distant sounds of muffled voices and rolling gurneys filling the silence. A day had passed sin
“He won’t,” Liam said confidently. “Not if we do it right. And in the meantime, we’ll keep a close eye on him. He’s not getting away with anything under my watch.” I hesitated, mulling it over. It could work. I looked at Liam, his long jacket and tall, square frame. “Okay,” I said finally. “Let’
Lauren's POV The hospital lights buzzed faintly overhead, their sterile glow reflecting off the glossy tiles and making the air feel colder than it was. My skin prickled as I stood near the window, the distant sounds of muffled voices and rolling gurneys filling the silence. “You’re distracted,”
Alexander's POV I stared at the letter for what felt like hours, though I knew it had only been minutes. The paper was stiff in my hands, the bold text glaring back at me: DNA test results: Owen is biologically related to Sophia. It didn’t make sense. Yet it did. This was the truth I’d always kn
It had been weeks since everything changed. Since I reluctantly let Alexander back in, our deal, my patients. Even after everything that happened, he still, without fail, left my mind scrambled. Heating up the hot cocoa on the stove, I watched the water bubble as I stirred the sweet smelling drink
“You don’t need an arm to tell me the truth, kid,” I growled, my grip tightening, my face inches from his. “And with someone as small as you, it wouldn’t take much to snap.”I wouldn’t, but the boy didn’t need to know that.Theo’s breath hitched again, but his smirk never wavered. “You’re a real pie
AlexanderI sat down in the metal chair across from the cage, the hard, cold surface digging into my back. The fluorescent light above flickered, casting long shadows on the concrete walls.The basement smelled like damp stone, mildew, and something older, something darker. The same smell that had l
Theo looked like he wanted to say more, but before he could, footsteps echoed down the stairs.My heart lurched. Crap.Without thinking, I darted behind a stack of crates, pressing myself into the shadows as the footsteps grew closer. Theo’s expression shifted instantly, going from teasing to unread
Abigail Sneaking into the prison basement was easier tonight, the guard more then clocked. It was a lot like trying to tiptoe past a sleeping guard dog while wearing bells on your shoes. Not impossible, but definitely not smart.The hallway held that smelled like damp stone and something metallic—b
His eyes darkened. “And you’re not?”My breath hitched. “Of course I am!”“Then why the hell did you let him—?”He stopped like he already knew the answer but I continued anyways.“It wasn’t like that and you know it.”His fingers drummed against the desk, a sharp, frustrated sound. “So explain it t
Lauren The hallway outside Alexander’s office was quiet, save for the faint hum of voices drifting up from downstairs. Dark wood lined the walls, soaking up the chandelier light, making everything feel dimmer, heavier.We hadn’t really talked since everything happened—aside from dinner, and even th
She glanced up, her golden eyes bright, before tilting the page toward me.Red hair.Tall frame.A face with sharp features, sketched with more care than the others.My stomach dropped.Theo.I forced my expression to stay neutral, but something in me went taut. “That’s… very detailed,” I said caref
Lauren The sink was full again.No matter how bad your day was the task of chores never, just, get’s done. It’s weird, I blinked and suddenly I didn’t make my mom picking up after me, and I was one.A good one? Well, that felt up to debate lately.I let the water run, watching the steam curl upward
The air was thick with the scent of paper, ink, and something else—something wrong. A tension that didn’t belong in this room but had settled in anyway, clawing at the edges of my patience.Three separate reports. Three different sightings.All in the last two weeks.Just what I needed on top of the