Jaxon I stood in the center of my office, phone still in hand, Deric’s last words echoing like a dull sound in my head. “You’re telling me now because you’re forced into it.” The call had ended ten minutes ago, but I hadn’t moved. The rain outside tapped lightly on the tall windows, a rhythmic sound that should have been soothing. It wasn’t. If Deric saw Callan the night he rescued Elvira… then unless they were separated, Elvira had to see him too. The logic circled like a hawk in my mind. She hadn’t said a damn thing. I ran a hand through my hair, fingers pulling the roots as I paced across the polished floors. I remembered how quiet she’d been after we got her back. Shaky, yes. Traumatized, I’d thought. But there was more. I’d sensed it. She’d had chances, dozens of them, to tell

