LOGINThe night had fully settled in, the city outside the windows reduced to scattered lights and distant shadows.
The last sliver of light beneath Dorothea's door had gone dark, the small shadow that had been moving behind it finally still. The soft murmur of her breathing through the crack in the door was the only sign that she was deeply asleep. Kate had retreated to her room long ago,
The night had fully settled in, the city outside the windows reduced to scattered lights and distant shadows.The last sliver of light beneath Dorothea's door had gone dark, the small shadow that had been moving behind it finally still. The soft murmur of her breathing through the crack in the door was the only sign that she was deeply asleep. Kate had retreated to her room long ago, and the faint hum of her television had faded into silence.The living room was quiet now, lit only by the warm glow of a single floor lamp. The rest of the apartment lay in shadow, the corners soft and indistinct.The tap ran for a moment and stopped. Dominic came out of the kitchen, drying his hands on a small towel. He walked to where Avery sat, unbuttoned two buttons
The door opened a crack, and the cold draft from the hallway rushed in. The warm scent of home cooking, the savory aroma of braised meat and vegetables that had filled the apartment just moments ago, was suddenly tempered by the cool, dry air of the corridor.Evan stood outside, his fingers tightening around the file folder. The paper was crisp and new, but the contents inside were old, seven years old, to be exact. His gaze traveled past Avery's shoulder, landing on the figure at the dining table.Dominic sat there, his shirtsleeves rolled to his elbows, one hand resting on the table. He had just reached over to hand Dorothea her small water cup, his long fingers wrapped around the plastic handle with surprising gentleness. He was completely at ease, as if he had been sitting at that table for years, as if he belonged there. The warm light from the kitchen caught the edges of his profile, softening the hard lines that usually defined him.Dominic turned his hea
After Julian had fallen asleep, the nurse took over the post-procedure monitoring. The soft beep of the monitors continued their steady rhythm, a reassuring sound in the quiet of the VIP ward. Avery signed the final file, her signature crisp and clear at the bottom of the page, before leaving the room.The corridor was lit with pale night lights, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Dominic was leaning against the opposite wall, waiting for her in the stillness. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes tracked her the moment she emerged, their focus sharp and clear.He pushed off the wall as she approached, his gaze finding her face with renewed clarity."Is he asleep?""Sleeping.
At seven in the morning, the sensor doors of the VIP ward area slid open silently.The corridor appeared quiet, but the air carried a subtle tension that hadn't been there before. Evan's security personnel had changed into orderly uniforms and taken positions at every secure access point. Their movements were unhurried, practiced, but their eyes tracked every shift in the hallway with a vigilance that betrayed their true purpose. A janitor paused to wipe an already spotless section of wall. A nurse checked a supply cart that held nothing but a concealed earpiece.The theater of normalcy was flawless, but Avery had learned to read the spaces between the ordinary.This was the day of reckoning. And also the moment when danger pressed closest.
At seven forty in the morning, Avery changed into her white coat and walked out of the office.The quiet sound of a supply cart rolling over the tiles filled the corridor. Out of the corner of her eye, she scanned the concealed corners. Evan's security detail was already in place, their positions discreet but unmistakable to a trained eye. A figure stood near the stairwell exit, another by the elevator bank. They moved with the practiced ease of professionals who had done this many times before.On the surface, everything appeared calm. The hospital hummed with its usual morning rhythm. But she knew the Gardener's people were nearby. The intelligence from the night before was still fresh in her mind, a quiet alarm that refused to fade. She couldn't afford to let her guard down for even a moment.
Morning light poured through the east-facing floor-to-ceiling windows when Avery picked up her travel bag. The pale gold of early dawn spilled across the marble floor, catching the edges of the furniture and casting long, soft shadows. She had packed lightly, just a few essentials, the bag barely half-full.At the end of the corridor, Dominic leaned against the doorframe. His dark coat was slightly disheveled, as if he had just splashed cold water on his face, a lingering darkness still clouding his eyes. The shadows beneath them were deep, proof of another sleepless night. His hair was still damp at the temples, and the collar of his shirt was slightly crooked.At the sound of the zipper, he turned his head. "So soon?""Just a few clothes." Avery walked toward him, her footsteps soft against the wood floor.As she passed, Dominic raised his hand. His rough fingertips found her wrist, sliding down inch by inch, before threading through her fingers with a
Julian was being held in a private care facility less than a ten-minute drive from the villa.Calling it a "facility" was a stretch; it was an independent building under Dominic's name. Men in black suits patrolled the perimeter, and two black SUVs sat in the courtyard, engines idling, with people
Avery stared at those words. Her phone hit the carpet. Before she could pick it up, Dominic was already moving."Drake. Clear the entire second floor. Inside and out." His brow was tight, his face stone serious."Dorothea's room. Now."Footsteps surged from every direction.The living room lights a
Morning came.Dominic's chair was empty.When Avery woke up, he was already dressed. Hearing her stir, he turned."Let's go. The lab."He didn't give her time to hesitate.Drake stayed behind to watch the house. The car waited at the gate.Dominic walked ahead in a dark tactical jacket. Avery follo
Dorothea lowered her head and went back to drawing. The crayon scratched across the paper."Dorothea." Avery crouched beside her daughter."Who told you that number?"Dorothea didn't look up. "I saw it.""Where did you see it?"The little girl's hand stopped. She put down the crayon, picked up her







