The storm outside had broken sometime in the early morning. Sierra woke to the low rumble of thunder rolling across the horizon, the steady patter of rain against her window. For a fleeting moment, cocooned beneath the heavy blanket, she allowed herself to believe the sound could wash her clean, drown out the chaos inside her head.
But when she turned, Damien’s side of the bed was empty. Cold.
The knot in her stomach tightened. He had been restless the night before, pacing the room long after she begged him to rest. She knew he was planning, calculating, but the more he schemed in silence, the more she feared even he wasn’t sure how to win this war.
Sierra dressed slowly, choosing a simple blouse and dark skirt. Nothing flashy, nothing Vanessa could twist into vanity or seduction. She h
