LOGINHe gestures toward the board. “We’ve mapped out everything from the hospital to the transfer point we got from the men Reaper brought in. That part lines up.” He traces the route with his finger. “From there, it goes cold.”“No sightings,” another adds. “No confirmed movement after that. We’ve check
NOAH.I knew the moment she stepped into the room that it was going to hit her. It’s in the way she stops. Not just physically, but completely, like something inside her just locks in place.I don’t say anything or move; I just watch her.Her eyes move slowly across the space, taking everything in,
I turn to him, a small grin forming despite everything. “You did a good job with this one.”A faint smile touches his lips. “Glad you approve… but I can’t take all the credit.”Before I can ask what he means, footsteps echo down the hallway.“Aunt Sierra!”Nova’s voice fills the space as she runs to
I don’t know what to say to that, because it just feels so impossible.“How? How can you erase her like that?” I ask before I can stop myself. “You loved her unconditionally.”I wasn’t trying to be a dick; I was just trying to understand.“I didn't love her,” he says immediately.I shake my head. “T
I stare at him, trying to process what he just said, but it doesn’t land the way it should.“You moved?” I finally ask, my voice quieter than I expect.He nods once, his eyes briefly flicking toward me before returning to the road.I keep looking at him, waiting for it to sink in but it doesn’t beca
“I was not dying.”He shrugs unapologetically. “You were in danger of bleeding out. I wasn’t going to risk it.”I roll my eyes just as the nurse steps in, gently examining my shoulder and thighs.“Good thing is that your wounds aren’t deep and didn’t hit anything to worry about,” she says after a mo
When the timer on the oven beeps, Nova squeals, dropping her rag. “They’re ready!”She rushes to the oven, standing on her toes. I pull out the tray carefully, the scent of sugar and vanilla filling the air.“They look perfect,” I tell her, setting them down.Nolan immediately reaches for one, but I
I stay frozen in place, my body refusing to move, my mind caught somewhere between the Director’s call and the flood of memories I just unleashed.Closing my eyes, I draw in a long breath, then another, repeating the action until it anchors me to the present.There’s nothing to be afraid of, I tell
I remember the last time he gave me hope. It was after we joined Uni. Chloe had broken up with him for reasons known only to her. He’d shown up at my apartment one evening, looking like the world had broken him. I was so startled to see him there—Noah Woods, standing on my doorstep with red eyes and
Uncle Gabe nods slowly, his usual gruffness giving way to something gentler. “You blink, and they’re adults. Responsible ones, too.” He clears his throat. “Though one of them still has a knack for causing heart attacks every once in a while.”Dad chuckles, but Uncle Gabe turns his piercing grey gaze







