Rose lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling.
She was supposed to be asleep.
But how could she?
He was working with Amy.
Her thoughts chased one another in cruel, endless circles.
What did they want?
Why now?
What was their plan?
And the worst question of all, how far would they go?
Her chest tightened at the memory of his voice over the phone. Calm. Confident. Like he had never disappeared. Like he hadn’t left her in debt, fear, and silence.
Her phone buzzed suddenly on the nightstand.
Her heart lurched.
She hesitated, her fingers hovering over it. Then she picked it up, her hand trembling.
One new message.
Unknown Number.
Tick-tock sweetheart.
Her blood turned to ice.
No name. No context. But the message said everything it needed to.
They weren’t just planning.
They w
