Dani’s hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the doorframe. She could feel Jax’s gaze on her, even though she couldn’t bring herself to look back. The weight of his silence pressed against her like an unspoken question.
She wanted to leave, needed to leave.
The morning air was colder than she remembered, but it still burned in her lungs, making her feel alive for the first time in days. She stepped into the hallway, the soft padding of her feet on the hardwood floor the only sound as she moved toward the stairs.
But she couldn’t escape the feeling that something was watching her. A presence so thick, so suffocating, that she almost felt as if Jax was right behind her, following in her every step. She cursed under her breath. She hadn’t asked for this—any of it.
Her thoughts were sc
