Chapter 44

• The sound of rushing water fills the kitchen as Lena quickly turns on the sink, her face twisting into a grimace as she moves her injured hand beneath the cold stream. Blood swirls into the drain, vanishing as quickly as it appears. I see the way her shoulders tense, how she bites down on her lower lip to keep from making a sound. I hope the sting serves as a warning to be more careful with her actions in the future—though, in truth, the accident wasn’t entirely her fault.
• A sharp creak echoes from the hallway, and my breath catches in my throat. The office door swings open, revealing a familiar figure. My heart pounds as I snap my head toward Lena, but she is already staring at me, her wide eyes filled with fear.
• Lucas steps into the room, his presence swallowing the space like a storm rolling in.