Dirk’s POV
I didn’t go looking for her with a plan.
That was the truth.
I just knew she wouldn’t be in her cabin.
People like Jasmine didn’t hide where they were told to hide. They drifted to neutral places. Corners. Spaces that didn’t belong to anyone. Places where they could exist without being watched.
So I checked the small reading lounge near the east wing.
And there she was.
Curled into one end of the couch, knees pulled up slightly, a blanket draped over her shoulders even though the room was warm. The fire burned low. Snow pressed softly against the wide windows. She stared at nothing, eyes unfocused, like her body was present but her mind was somewhere far away.
She didn’t hear me at first.
I stood there for a moment, debating whether to leave. I wasn’t Josh, with his car
