The night stayed quiet, but Cole never really slept. He rested on the sofa in the living room, his ears tuned to every small sound from the hallway or the street below. Years of being in charge of security had trained him to stay alert even when his body was tired. He kept his phone close, his gun within easy reach, and the security system active at all times.
Around seven the next morning, he heard movement from down the hall. A few minutes later, Elara walked into the living room. She looked different now. She cleaned up, her hair brushed, and wearing a simple cotton shirt and pants from the guest closet. The fear was still there in her eyes, but it was mixed with more control, like she had made up her mind to stop running and start talking.
Cole sat up and nodded toward the kitchen. “
