Chapter 64 Ugly Memory

• Darren stirred before the first hint of dawn, his instincts refusing him more than two hours of rest. Carefully, he untangled himself from Nina’s warmth and slipped off the cot. His boots were silent on the floorboards as he moved out, checking every window and door, scanning the treeline for shadows that didn’t belong. The night was still, but he trusted quiet even less than noise.
• When he returned, easing the door shut behind him, he found Nina sitting up on the cot. Her hair was tousled, her eyes still heavy with sleep, but alert.
• “You left,” she said softly, tugging the blanket closer around her shoulders.