AUTHOR'S POV
HOURS EARLIER
The sky was still in deep predawn darkness when Nik awoke to a hard knock. His eyes opened to see the bed beside him still empty.
He forced himself up, confusion seeping through the shroud of exhaustion as he wondered what time it was.
Scrambling for his phone, he saw 3:54 a.m. And he exhaled sharply, swinging his legs off the bed, convinced it was Iva. He reasoned that she had probably locked herself out.
Nik padded through the dim apartment, rubbing his palm across his face. And he froze the moment he pulled open the door. It wasn't Iva, but Wanda at the door. Her eyes were puffy and red, and her hair was disheveled, as if she had not slept at all.
"I'm sorry for bothering you," she said quickly, hugging herself. "Is—Is Iva back yet? I was just... I
