REIDIt’s been three days since we arrived, and the safe house feels too quiet. Too still. Nothing like the mansion, where silence was rare, always filled with footsteps, arguments, and laughter. This kind of quiet is heavier. Different. I roll my shoulders and exhale slowly as I tighten the wraps around my knuckles. Across from me, Andrea mimics the motion, but it’s clear she’s never done this before. Her hands move too carefully. She’s overthinking every step. She’s restless. I’ve seen her pacing the halls and staring out windows, expecting shadows to move. She’s pretending she’s fine. She’s not. Neither am I. “Loosen your grip,” I say, cutting through the thick air between us. She scowls but doesn’t argue as I step closer and take her hands in mine, adjusting the wraps before she cuts off her own circulation. Her skin is warm, her pulse racing under my fingers. It spikes when my thumb brushes her wrist. She doesn’t pull away. “Don’t coddle me,” she mutters, watching me throu
Last Updated : 2026-06-16 Read more