Chapter Fifteen: The House on Mercer Street
Naomi POV
The house smelled like old paper and cold tea.
Not dust exactly.
Something older than dust.
The smell of a place that had stopped trying to feel lived-in a long time ago.
Harmon's daughter locked the front door behind us.
Click.
Then the second lock.
Click.
Then the chain.
She left her hand on the door for a moment.
I watched her listen.
Not to us.
To the other side.
Then she turned around.
"Sit."
Julian and I exchanged a glance.
She pointed toward the couch.
"Both of you."
"Okay," I said.
She disappeared through a narrow doorway.
I sat beside Julian.
The couch dipped beneath our combined weight, and our knees touched.
Neither of us moved away.
My eyes traveled around the room.
The curtains were drawn even thou
