AgnesI barely slept that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her—my baby, alone and afraid in a dark cave. I imagined her cries echoing off the stone walls, growing fainter and fainter until they stopped altogether.By the time morning arrived, my eyes were swollen and my throat was raw. But
I nodded, trying to ignore the cold fear creeping up my spine. I hated enclosed spaces—always had. The thought of entering those dark tunnels made my chest tight with panic. But if my baby had been in there, if she’d died alone in the dark... I could endure a few hours of discomfort.The cave entran
AgnesI floated back to consciousness slowly, like surfacing from deep water. The first thing I became aware of was the softness beneath me—a bed, not the cold cave floor. The second was a small, warm body curled against my side, and a tiny hand resting on my stomach.Thea.I opened my eyes, blinkin
He hesitated, and I braced myself for more bad news. What could possibly be worse than what we’d already discovered?“The whole incident has garnered a lot of attention,” he said, his face softening slightly. “There were journalists at the search site. When they heard about your fainting, about the
AgnesI arrived at the office earlier than usual the next morning, my mind already racing with the plans I’d formulated during my restless night. Sleep had been impossible—every time I closed my eyes, I saw those tiny bones illuminated by flashlights. So instead, I’d channeled my grief and anxiety i
“The items would be completely legal,” I explained to one particularly cautious supplier. “We’re talking about safety whistles, not switchblades. And the pepper spray would be the standard strength allowed for civilian use in our territory.”I wanted these bags to provide real protection, not just a
AgnesMy heart lurched painfully in my chest. Thea’s violin recital. How could I have forgotten something so important?Elijah’s eyes swept over my chaotic office, taking in the scattered sketches, fabric samples, and prototypes. Then his gaze returned to me, and I saw the concern etched into the li
But when I turned to face the mirror, disappointment washed over me. The dress hung from my frame like a child playing dress-up in her mother’s clothes.Frowning, I tugged at the fabric, trying to make it sit right. Had I really lost that much weight? I turned sideways, studying my reflection. My ri
I hated that he was making sense. And even more than that, I hated that a part of me—a much bigger part of me than I wanted to admit—was actually considering it.“What if it’s a trap?” I asked quietly. “What if he’s involved with Elemental Enterprises somehow? He could be trying to get to Thea.”“Th
AgnesI stared at the letter in my hands the entire night, reading and rereading the words until they were practically burned into my brain. By morning, the paper had taken on a slightly crumpled appearance from how many times I had folded and unfolded it.By the time the sun rose, I wasn’t sure if
Elijah, noticing the tension leaving my shoulders, offered me a soft smile. “And I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t sexy as hell when you get like that.”I blushed and looked away. “Stop it…”“But I mean it,” he murmured, his voice growing husky as he leaned closer to me. His lips brushed mine ever so
AgnesElijah gently pulled me out of the banquet hall before I could say another word.We reached the nearest bathroom—a small powder room off the main hallway—and Elijah ushered me inside, locking the door behind us. Without a word, he turned on the faucet and soaked a washcloth in cold water.“Her
My hand tightened around my wine glass, and I felt a flicker of heat race through my veins, which I quickly pushed down with a big gulp of wine. It wasn’t enough, though. “Water, please,” I said abruptly to the bartender. “Extra ice.”The bartender nodded and handed me my glass. I chugged half of it
Agnes“Hold still,” I muttered around the pins that were pinched between my lips. “I’m almost done.”“But it tickles,” Thea whined.I sighed, sitting back on my heels to survey my work. The pink dress had turned out even better than I’d imagined—the fabric caught the light just so, and the purple em
Thea was already back from day camp when I arrived, sprawled on the living room floor with a coloring book and a horde of new crayons—which we’d certainly be finding under the couch for years to come. She looked up as I entered.“Mommy!” She jumped up and ran to hug me. “How was work?”“It was good,
AgnesI straightened my blouse one last time before pushing open the glass door to the design department. It had been almost a month since I’d last set foot in the office—first because of the fire, then because of everything with Thea and the house rebuild.I wasn’t nervous, exactly, but there was a
“Thank you.” I took a sip, letting the rich flavor roll over my tongue. “For everything. Not just the wine.”He smiled. “You don’t need to thank me, Agnes. None of this would have happened without you.”“That’s not true. You’re the one who went to see Olivia. You’re the one who believed her crazy st