Annabelle stared at her phone, her heart pounding in her chest. The screen had gone dark, but Sebastian’s words still echoed in her mind. "You’re in danger. Both of you." She clenched her fists, trying to steady her breathing. She couldn’t let Derek see her like this—panicked, unsure. He needed her to be strong. But how could she be strong when she didn’t even know what they were up against?
“Annabelle?” Derek’s voice came from the doorway, soft but alert. “What’s going on? I heard your voice.”
She turned, forcing a smile even though he couldn’t see it. “Nothing, just… a wrong number. They hung up before I could say anything.”
Derek tilted his head, his brow furrowing. “You sure? You sound… off.”
“I’m fine,” she said quickly, too quickly. “Just… tired, I guess. Last night was a lot.”
