The living room was heavy with silence. It was 8:00 p.m., and the city outside tightened around us, its hum distant, irrelevant.The one thing that mattered was the little man lying on the couch, Liam. His small body was still under a blanket, his chest moving up and down in shallow breaths. My eyes stayed on him, aching heavily, even as every part of me screamed for the son who wasn't there.Ethan.My eldest.Still missing.I haven't even heard from him, or them yet.I was sitting on the floor, back to the cold wall, shirt wet, hair mussed, my heart pounding in fear. Megan was at the window, blonde hair down, eyes red-rimmed from the long hours. Her jacket had been thrown over a chair hours earlier, her perfume now subtle. She had not moved from my side since yesterday, since the first ransom, since Liam was returned."Victor," she whispered, kneeling alongside me. Her own voice was hoarse. "You must try to sleep. If only for an hour."I didn't respond. Couldn't. The fear in my ches
The kitchen clock ticked more loudly than it should. It was 11:00 a.m., but time stood still, as though the hands wouldn't move until I could breathe again.I sat stiff at the edge of my dining table, damp palms flat against the wood, heart pounding as though it would shatter through my ribs. The air was heavy with the smell of stale toast and bitter coffee, long cold.Megan was sitting across from me, glaring at her laptop, her jaw set in concentration. She had not moved from my side since I told her. Her blonde hair was tied up in a messy bun, and she still wore the same clothes she had on this morning when we were going to take the boys to school.Instead, I got a call.Now my phone screen was black between us, a loaded gun waiting to fire again.It rang.I jumped.Megan's hand clamped around mine in silent reassurance. I took a breath and answered, keeping my voice steady."Yes?"The same very cold voice."Everything we talked about should be in place. No police, no stalling. Ther
(Victor's POV)My kitchen was empty. Morning sunlight slipped through the blinds in narrow slats, barely warming the counter. There was the faint smell of burnt toast in the air.I stood at the sink, shirt not tucked in, tie loose, my hair damp from a quick shower. Coffee sat untouched in a cup.Ethan and Liam are im school now. They went with Megan and her daughter who's in their class too, and her car was their ride. The house was too quiet. The silence pressed against my chest like a physical force.My phone rang at shrill and odd. I glanced at the screen, private caller, no numbers, no name. I wouldn't have answered, but I answered anyway."Hello?"The voice on the other end was male, icy. Flat."Victor Graham. We have your sons. Ethan and Liam. Shut up and listen to me, or they're dead."I froze. The world tipped. My hand fell off the counter, knees buckling. My stomach dropped like stone."Proof," I just about managed.There was a pause. And then I heard it, Liam's voice, small
(Lily's POV)The study room was cozy with morning sunlight. It was a little after nine, and soft rays filtered through the high windows, creating golden spots on our messy table.The room smelled of fresh coffee and ink. There were papers everywhere, notes, open laptops, sketchbooks with José's neat lines and everything vibrated with a focused sort of energy.I was sitting cross-legged in the old wooden chair, jeans soft and worn in, a flowing blouse slipping off one shoulder. My dark hair was tied back, tendrils brushing against the back of my neck. I barely registered.My heart was racing. We were in the middle of our group project, this sustainable urban design thing that was going better than I ever imagined it would. José sat beside me, sketchbook propped open, pencil flying.His hand brushed against mine every now and then, fleeting and warm, just enough to ground me.Sophie leaned in, her smile widening as she jabbed a finger at my laptop screen. "Lily, your stats are killer. W
The corridor stretched out before us, dark, the faint creak of boards underfoot combining with the distant rumble of rain outside. David's hand was hot against mine, his hold firm but gentle, leading me to his room.My heart thudded. My skin tingled, as if every nerve of my body were waiting in anticipation.I could still taste him on my lips, his warmth, and the memory of his kisses burned through me, starting a fire low in my belly. Part of me wanted to break away, to gasp and make sense of the storm raging in me, but the power of his touch was stronger, propelling me forward.We went into his room, the air cooler inside, with the slight scent of new linen and his cologne.A single lamp cast a warm glow over the room, eliminating the harshness of the room's corners, the unmade bed with navy blue sheets, the dresser made of wood covered with books, the open window letting in the damp night air.My eyes had darted to the bed, and a cramp of nerves tensed my stomach. This was actually
His lips pressed to mine, soft at first, like a question. The warmth of his mouth chilled me, my skin tingling as I leaned into him, meeting him with a soft nudge of my own lips.My heart was pounding heavily, so much that it's more thunderous than the sound of rain against the roof outside.I could feel the faint tang of wine on his tongue, mixed with something richer, something uniquely him, and it was disorienting.My hands, still on his chest, pulled the fabric of his shirt into a knot, pinning me there while the kiss slowed and deepened, a rediscovery of one another, it seemed.I could sense the heat of his body beneath the lightweight cotton, his muscles coiled tight beneath my fingertips.My mind raced. Part of me wanted to pull back, to guard the fragile pieces of myself I’d kept locked away, but the pull of him was strongerHis hand slid to my cheek, his thumb brushing my jaw, guiding me closer.The tenderness of it made my chest ache, a mix of longing and fear that this mome