THE SAME EVENING
XAVIER'S POV:
That night, the house was quiet, but I couldn’t sleep. My mind replayed the letter, the sharp, threatening words burned into my memory. You can’t hide from me. The way Victoria had written it, it was like she was already here, watching, waiting. I lay on the couch in the living room, staring at the ceiling. The dim glow of the streetlights outside barely cut through the darkness, and the occasional creak of the house settling made the silence feel heavier. I was starting to drift off when I heard it a muffled sound from down the hall. At first, I thought I’d imagined it, but then it came again louder this time. A cry.
"Isabella." I muttered, sitting up.
I was on my feet before I even realized it, heading toward her room. The door was slightly ajar, and as
