Chapter 26: The Warning
Elsie’s POV
The illusion of a quiet routine lasted exactly three days.
It was mid-afternoon when the heavy deadbolts on the main suite door turned with a sharp, iron clack.
I was sitting at the kitchen table, folding a stack of clean towels. I didn't jump. I didn't scramble to hide. I simply placed the folded towel down, kept my hands resting flat on the cool wood, and forced my face into the smooth, unreadable mask I had perfected over the last week.
I expected Collin with the afternoon supply run, or Jeremy coming back from the garage with grease on his forearms.
Instead, the door swung open to reveal Stone Callahan.
The old president walked into the suite slowly, his heavy wooden cane tapping against the floorboards with a slow, rhythmic thud... thud... th
