Chapter 17

The sun was setting, casting long shadows through the windows of Erica’s living room. She sat on the edge of the couch, her hands gripping the edge of the cushion as if it were the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.

Every sound outside, every creak of the house, made her jump. Her mind raced through the conversation she’d had with her grandfather earlier that day, the eerie phone call.

And then there was Julian. The man she thought she knew, the man she loved, was now an different person. Was he involved in whatever dark dealings surrounded his business? Was he protecting her or leading her into a trap?

Her phone buzzed on the table, jolting her out of her thoughts. The screen lit up with a message from an unknown number. Her pulse quickened as she unlocked it and read the text:

*We’re watching. Don’t leave the house.*

Her breath caught in her throat. She scanned the room as if expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows. This was no coincidence. Someone was tracking he