CHAPTER 8
Timeline: 23 Days Until
“Open the door. I know you’re awake.”
Cole’s voice was low, rough, and threaded through with a quiet desperation that made my heart race instead of pound. I sat up in bed, blankets pulled to my chest, and stared at the locked door. It was past midnight. The house had been quiet for hours. Knox had stopped talking an hour ago. I’d thought they’d all gone to sleep.
“Go to bed, Cole.” My voice was soft, but it carried through the wood. “It’s late.”
“I can’t.” He shifted, and I heard the faint scuff of his boot on the floorboards right outside. “I’ve been sitting at the bottom of the stairs for three hours. And every time I close my eyes, I see you. Standing there. Looking at me. Like you did at dinner. Like you knew.”
“Knew what?” I swung my legs over
