Chapter 87

AVA

The storm outside was relentless, rain hammering against the windows like a never-ending rhythm of tension.

I slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake Liam. His steady breathing told me he was still asleep, or at least pretending to be. I didn’t want to think too much about that. Padding downstairs, I made my way to the kitchen, craving something to calm my nerves—a glass of water, anything to break the silence that clung to me like damp air.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, the dim light from the kitchen caught my attention. I wasn’t alone. My heart gave a slight jolt. Davies was there, leaning against the counter, a glass of something strong in his hand.

“Couldn’t sleep either, huh?” he asked, his voice low and smooth, like the man himself. His eyes, however, held that familiar glint—the one that always made me uneasy. The one that felt like he saw right through me and enjoyed what he saw.

“No,” I replied, my voice tight. “Just came down for some water.”

I c