Home, or Som

d, his voice rough, and I'll keep sa

ke ink across a page. His breathing was shallow, ragged. But his eyes, those eyes

t move to

on

neeling beside Damian. You bled for her aft

d? Damian hissed. Because t

ough the room like a whip. Her ha

o to trust. But right now, one of them was bleeding on t

tchenette and dropped to her kn

at her in

kly. But if you die before I get the t

her the fa

ainst his wound. He winc

ed, voice quieter now

d teeth. Harrison's insurance policy. He do

We're exposed. They know you're ali

d. We have a

d her eyes. O

wit

ed in. Abso

won't find this place next? She needs protection. And

Elara

et her g

h clenched

lt for this exact scenario. And you've been

Jaxon, wide-eyed, shaking his head

tood

oing because I trust you. I'm goi

was long a

a secure line when she was ready. He gave her a burner p

left wit

e couldn't explain, wanted to know why her

e the city. Miles passed. Then trees gave way to o

valley. Ivy-covered. Remote. The kind of p

gate and parked beside

she asked as t

her a look.

door as he unlocked it.

he scent of sandalwood. The worn grooves in the wooden floors. The pain

re before, s

d to hide in that clos

rply. Don't te

e. Then remembe

ckened. Heavy. Unspoken

room, he said after a be

foll

shelf of books, was a reinforced door. He

stacked with labeled boxes. A wall lined with monitors and surveilla

d. He didn't trust the board. He knew they were siphon

awer and pulle

s, photos, coded

hrough them wit

. Handwritten. The p

en the family. Especially not Harrison. You are the only one who can finish wh

slowly, her m

gain, she murmu

n hes

trauma. But Harrison twisted it. Used it to erase instead of restor

an cold. They t

ou were the fallback. If he died, you were the one who could bring it all t

walking to

er head. Her heart

she asked, not turning around.

. I made mistakes. I should've told you ever

y that like we were

. We were. You ju

him, chest ris

help me remember. B

't, h

dn't r

't leave the