Chapter 28
Lena unlocked the door with shaky hands, pushing it open to the comforting stillness of her home. The lights were off, the house dim, with the late-afternoon sun casting soft streaks across the floor. Her shoulders sagged with relief when she realized her mom and Sage still weren’t back.
She didn’t want to explain anything. Not tonight.
Tossing her keys onto the kitchen counter, Lena glanced down at her clothes—still rumpled and stained with dried dirt and blood. Her stomach twisted at the memory. She peeled off the layers quickly, careful to avoid the deeper bruises forming along her ribs and thighs, and made her way to her room.
Inside, the familiar scent of lavender and old books greeted her. She breathed it in like a lifeline.
She grabbed an oversized t-shirt from the b
