The smoke lingered—thin, invisible, patient. Watching.
Chapter 26
Afterglow
Darcy
Darcy jolted awake, heart pounding, sheets tangled tight around her legs. For a moment, panic still held her, but as she scanned the quiet room—soft morning light lacing the walls—relief washed over her.Just a dream. Thank God, just a dream.Nothing in the room was wrong, no shadow lurking at her side, only the reassuring hush of morning.
Still, it haunted her, how convincingly real it had felt—the sensation of being trapped, of Jason’s menace pressing in. She pressed her palms to her face, wishing she could scrub away the memory and the bone-deep terror it left behind. Even awake, his threat loomed, refusing to let her forget how quickly everything could be snatched away.
She let her thoughts drift to Burke. Last night, his presence had anchored her—the tenderness in his touch, the quiet strength that made everything gentle and possible for a little while. With him she found openness, a different world—a world Jason could never understand.
But clarity came with the dawn. If she kept allowing herself this hope, letting the closeness between her and Burke deepen,she knew how it would end. Jason had a way of finding her, of infecting every good thing she dared to have. If he ever discovered what she had here—what she and Burke had built—she couldn’t imagine the destruction he’d bring.
For their sake, for Burke’s sake, she’d have to make a choice. This couldn’t last—not when danger shadowed every hopeful moment.
She turned toward the window, sunlight glinting off the glass. A new day had come—but she already knew it would cost her everything.
Burke
Burke woke before dawn. The first thing he noticed was the space beside him. Darcy’s side of the bed was empty; she had slipped away in the night. Worry punched through the haze of sleep.
He sat up slowly, rubbing a hand over his face, the memory of the night before rushing in—the softness of her skin, the way she had clung to him, tenderness mixed with passion. For him, it had been more than physical. It had been everything. And he couldn’t help but wonder if she had felt the same—or if she regretted it.
What if it had been too much, too soon? What if she was already pulling away? The thought hit hard, stealing his breath. He tried to shake it off.
By midmorning, he couldn’t resist any longer. He headed to the courthouse museum, hoping to catch a glimpse of her—maybe reassure himself. But when he found her standing behind the counter, talking with a visitor, his heart sank. She was there, but different—cool, distant, her polite smile a mask. And when their eyes met, she looked away too quickly.
He waited until the visitor left before stepping closer. “Darcy,” he said gently, his voice low, cautious.
She gave him a faint smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Hey, Burke.”
“You disappeared this morning.” He tried to keep his tone light, but worry edged his words.
Her hands fidgeted, a nervous tell.
“I needed some space. I think… maybe we should slow down.”
The words hit him like a punch. He wanted to argue, to tell her how much last night had meant to him, but they weren’t alone. A couple of locals wandered past, lingering long enough to overhear. One coughed softly; another’s boot scraped against the floor—their curious gazes heavy with small-town gossip.
He leaned in slightly, concern etched in his posture. “Not here,” he murmured. “We’ll talk tonight. At your cottage. Just us.”
She hesitated, clearly torn, then finally nodded. “Okay—tomorrow night.”
As he left, Burke’s mind was a storm of emotions—longing, confusion, determination. Whatever was pulling her away, he wasn’t going to let it go unanswered. Not when he had finally found someone who made him feel whole again.
Evan
The Denver airport pulsed with its usual chaos—rolling suitcases, loudspeaker announcements, the sharp scent of coffee cutting through recycled air. Izzy moved through it all with practiced grace, dark curls spilling around her shoulders, oversized sunglasses hiding her eyes. She looked every bit theseasoned traveler—designer tote at her elbow, sleek luggage rolling behind her. Calm, efficient. Untouchable.
And she was completely unaware that she was being followed.
Evan blended easily with the crowd. His stride was casual, never letting the distance close too much. To anyone else, he was another man in line, another traveler waiting for his flight. But his attention never left her.
He hadn’t guessed her flights. He’d been there at the Apple Store when she replaced her stolen laptop—and slipped the kid behind the counter a stack of bills to preload a tracker. Every keystroke since then had been his to follow. That’s how he knew where she was going.
He followed her onto the flight to Nashville, slipping into a seat three rows behind—close enough to observe, far enough to remain invisible. Izzy tucked herself against the window, tote beneath the seat, pulling out a book. She never noticed him.
