The silence stretched, taut as wire.
Rose froze in the armchair, her breath locked tight in her chest. Daniel’s eyes had gone sharp, all warmth gone, replaced with a predator’s edge. His hand slid slowly inside his jacket, fingers curling around the grip of his weapon.
Another creak. This one is heavier. Closer.
Her heart hammered so loudly she was sure whoever was upstairs could hear it.
Daniel’s lips barely moved. “Stay.”
He rose silently, each step a study in control, his weight shifting over floorboards without a sound. Rose clutched the blanket tighter, fighting the urge to run. Every instinct screamed at her: move, hide, escape.
But his command rooted her in place.
The stairs groaned faintly as Daniel climbed, gun low, eyes fixed on the landing. His body was angled, a predator
