Novel-novel oleh OPEY

Selene’s PovDamien and I got out of bed carefully so the girls would stay asleep. We followed Naomi down the hall to the kitchen. The only light was the small one over the stove.Naomi pointed to the counter. “This was on the back step when I went to get water. Marcus already checked the yard. No one is out there now.”It was a single white envelope with my name on the front. Damien opened it before I could. Inside was a short handwritten note.I’m done with games for tonight. Sleep. Tomorrow is another day. — HDamien handed the note to Marcus, who had come in behind us. “Burn it. And keep the extra people on until sunrise.”Marcus nodded and left with the envelope.Naomi touched my arm. “I’m going back to bed. You two should try to rest.”She left us alone in the quiet kitchen. Damien turned to me and opened his arms. I walked straight into them and held on.“I’m so tired of her notes,” I said against his chest.“I know,” he answered. “But she’s not here. The girls are upstairs sle

Selene’s PovDamien sat up fast and grabbed the baby monitor. He turned it off and called Marcus at the same time.“The monitor just spoke,” he said. “Helena’s voice. Check every frequency and every camera right now.”I stayed still so I would not wake the girls. My heart was beating hard but I kept my hand on Lucy’s back.Marcus answered quickly. “We’re on it. The monitor signal was bounced from outside the property. No one is inside. No one is on the grounds. It was remote. We’re blocking the frequency so it can’t happen again.”Damien put the phone down and looked at me. “It’s done. She can’t reach the monitor anymore. We’re safe.”I let out a shaky breath. “I hate that she can still get to us even when she’s not here.”“I know,” he said. He came around the bed and sat on my side. “But she’s not here. The girls are sleeping. You’re right next to me. That’s what matters right now.”He held out his hand. I took it and let him pull me up. We stepped into the hallway again so our voice

Selene’s PovDamien was out of bed before Lucy finished the sentence. He went straight to the window and looked down at the garden while I pulled Lucy close and kept Hope covered with the blanket.“Marcus,” Damien said into his phone, voice low. “Lucy says she sees someone by the sunflowers. Check it now.”I rubbed Lucy’s back. “It’s okay, baby. Daddy and the people outside are looking. You’re safe with me.”Lucy nodded against my shoulder. “I don’t want the bad lady to come back.”“She won’t,” I told her. “We’re right here. Nothing is getting to you or Hope.”Damien stayed at the window until Marcus answered. “All clear. One of the night guards walked the edge of the fence with a flashlight. The light caught the sunflowers and made a shadow. No one is out there. Garden is empty.”Damien put the phone away and came back to the bed. He sat on the edge and reached for Lucy’s hand.“It was just a shadow, sweetheart,” he said. “The garden is empty. You’re safe. Hope is safe. Mommy and I a

Selene’s PovI slipped out of bed as carefully as I could so the girls would not wake. Damien stood in the hallway with the phone still at his ear. His face looked tight but not panicked.“Who is it?” I asked softly.He held the phone out so I could hear. The voice on the other end was Marcus.“Everything is fine on the grounds,” Marcus said. “One of the new sensors picked up a stray cat near the back fence and triggered an alert that somehow bounced to the house line. I already checked. No people. No threats. I’m sorry it rang so late.”Damien let out a long breath. “Thanks for calling it in. Keep the extra eyes on until morning.”He hung up and looked at me. “Just a cat. We’re okay.”I felt the last bit of tension leave my shoulders. “I thought it was her again.”“I know,” he said. He pulled me into a full hug right there in the hallway. “But it wasn’t. The girls are safe. You’re safe. I’m right here.”I rested my cheek against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. “Can we stay l

Selene’s PovDamien and I stood in the doorway a little longer, just watching Lucy and Hope sleep. Their breathing was soft and even. Lucy had one arm stretched out like she was reaching for someone even in her dreams. Hope was curled in a tiny ball near the middle of the bed.“They look so peaceful,” I whispered.“They do,” Damien said. He slid his arm around my waist and pulled me gently against his side. “Come sit with me for a minute. I don’t want the night to end yet.”We moved to the small couch by the window where we could still see the bed. Damien sat first and guided me down so I was tucked under his arm. I rested my head on his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart.“Talk to me,” he said. “Not about anything scary. Just us.”I smiled against his shirt. “I liked our date tonight. Even though we barely ate, it felt good to sit across from you and remember we’re more than just two people fighting all the time.”“I liked it too,” Damien said. His fingers traced slow

Selene’s PovI almost dropped the phone when I saw the video. Damien saw my face change and took it from me right away. He watched the short clip of Hope’s empty crib and the sound of a baby crying and his whole body went still.“Marcus,” he said into his earpiece, voice low and sharp. “Hope’s crib is empty. Find her. Now.”Lucy was still in his arms, half asleep. I reached for her hand and held it while we waited. My heart felt like it was trying to climb out of my chest.Two minutes later Marcus’s voice came back. “We’ve got her. She’s safe. One of Helena’s people tried to take her from the side nursery at the house but our team was already there. They’re bringing her to you now.”I let out a breath that turned into a sob. Damien pulled me against his side with his free arm and kissed the top of my head.“She’s okay,” he whispered. “Both our girls are okay.”Lucy lifted her head. “Is Hope coming too?”“Yes, baby,” I told her. “Hope is coming right now.”A black car pulled up and one