LOGINThe morning was quiet.I stood at the window, watching the snow fall. It came down in soft, silent flakes, blanketing the garden in white. The roses were hidden now, their bare branches buried beneath the cold. The world outside was muffled, hushed, as if holding its breath, waiting for something to break.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that usually brought me comfort. Today it only made me more aware of how fragile everything was. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the fabric of my sweater."You're up early."I leaned into him, letting his warmth seep through my clothes. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About Isabella. About the offer."He was quiet for a moment, his thumb tracing circles on my hip. "What about it?
The morning was cold.I stood at the window, watching the frost creep across the glass in delicate, crystalline patterns. Winter was returning, its icy fingers reaching for the garden. The roses were sleeping, their bare branches dark against the gray sky. The grass was brittle, white with frost. The world outside was silent, muffled by the cold, as if holding its breath, waiting for something to change.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that usually brought me comfort. Today it only made me more aware of how fragile everything was. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the fabric of my sweater."You're up early."I leaned into him, letting his warmth seep through my clothes. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About Isabell
The morning was gray.I stood at the window, watching the rain fall. It came down in sheets, blurring the mountains, washing the world clean. The safe house felt smaller today, the walls pressing in like the sides of a coffin. The rain tapped against the glass, a steady, rhythmic sound that should have been soothing. It wasn't. It sounded like fingers drumming on a table, impatient, waiting for something I couldn't name.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that usually brought me comfort. Today it only made me more aware of how fragile everything was. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the fabric of my sweater."You're up early."I leaned into him, letting his warmth seep through my clothes. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and stron
The morning was cold.I stood at the window, watching the mist curl around the mountains like pale fingers reaching for the sky. The safe house was small, hidden in the trees, but it felt like a cage. We had been here for three days. Three days of hiding. Three days of waiting. Three days of wondering who had betrayed us. The silence was suffocating, pressing against my skin like a second layer of clothing.The wood beneath my feet was cold, the chill seeping through the thin soles of my shoes. The air smelled of pine and damp earth, of wood smoke and fear. I pressed my palm against the glass, watching my breath fog the surface. The world outside was gray and muted, the colors bleeding into one another.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that usually brought me comfort. Today it only made me more aware of how fragile everything was. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the fabric of my sweater."
The morning was quiet.Too quiet.I stood at the window, watching the mist curl around the garden like ghostly fingers. The roses were wet with dew, their petals heavy and dark, weighing down the stems. The grass was damp, each blade glistening with moisture, the earth soft beneath the weight of the night's rain. The sky was gray, heavy with clouds that promised more rain to come. No birds sang. No children laughed. The silence pressed against my skin, thick and suffocating.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that usually brought me comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid, his palm pressing gently through the thin fabric of my shirt."What is it?"I leaned into him, letting his warmth seep through my clothes. "I don't know. Something feels wrong."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "The children are safe. The investors are gone. We are alive."I turned to face him, my hands resting on his che
The morning was cold.I stood at the window, watching the mist curl around the garden like ghostly fingers. The roses were wet with dew, their petals heavy and dark. The grass was damp, each blade glistening with moisture. The sky was gray, heavy with clouds that promised rain.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. His hand found my waist, warm and solid."You're up early."I leaned into him, letting his warmth seep through my clothes. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. "About the children. About the ones still out there."He pulled me close. "We'll find them."I looked up at him. "How?"He was quiet for a moment, his thumb tracing circles on my hip. "We follow the trail. We find the safe houses. We bring them home."I nodded. "Then let's go."Lily ran into the room, Barnaby bouncing in her arms. Her bare feet slapped against the wooden floor. "Mommy! Daddy!"I knelt down, ca
The farmhouse was quiet.Too quiet.I stood by the window. The fields were green. The sky was blue. The sun was warm. Birds sang in the trees. Normal. Quiet. Peaceful.But I knew it would not last. It never did.Rex walked to me. Put his arm around my waist. His hand was warm."What are you thinkin
The room was dark.Small. Stone walls. Iron door. A single light bulb hung from the ceiling. Flickering.Lily slept on my lap. Barnaby was tucked under her arm. Her small chest rose and fell. Her face was peaceful.Rex sat beside me. His hand was on my back. His eyes were on the door.I looked at h
The farmhouse was quiet.I stood by the window. The fields were green. The sky was blue. The sun was warm. Normal. Quiet. Peaceful.But I knew it would not last.Rex walked to me. Put his arm around my waist."What are you thinking?"I leaned into him. "I am thinking about Anna. About her photograp
The morning was gray.I stood by the window. The city was waking up. Cars on the streets. People on the sidewalks. Birds in the trees. Normal. Quiet. Peaceful.But I knew it would not last.Rex walked to me. Put his arm around my waist. His hand was warm."What are you thinking?"I leaned into him.







