The house felt smaller than usual, claustrophobic even, as if the walls themselves were watching. Elena moved through the rooms like a ghost, every creak of the floorboards underfoot making her jump. She couldn’t escape the buzzing in her pocket, though she had tried. Julian had told her to stay off her phone, but the messages kept coming, dripping like poison into her mind. Every vibration, every alert made her pulse spike.
She entered the living room and froze. Julian was there, leaning against the marble fireplace, his shirt sleeves rolled up, hands tucked into his pockets, jaw tight. The firelight danced across his features, making him look more dangerous than ever. More irresistible.
“They sent another one,” he said, voice low, almost reverent with anger.
Elena held up her phone. A
