Chapter 23

• Jake***
• The night stretched on, heavy with an unease that refused to dissipate. Belle hadn’t spoken much since Victor’s arrival, her silence echoing louder than any words could. She sat on the edge of the couch now, her arms wrapped around herself as though trying to ward off a chill only she could feel.
• I stood by the window, staring out into the darkness. The compound’s lights barely penetrated the surrounding woods, leaving shadows that seemed to shift and breathe. My thoughts raced, but I kept my expression calm. Victor was a man of calculated moves. If he had decided to stay the night, it wasn’t on a whim.