It was empty.
CHAPTER 22
ROSALIE
Rrrring!
Rrrring!
My eyes flew open, and I threw off the sheets.Ugh, that sound. What was it? It was so loud. Soannoying.
With a heavy sigh that escaped as a woosh through my lips, I walked toward the dimly lit living room with my arms crossed over my chest. My silk pajama set didn’t offer much warmth outside of a blanket.
My steps were slow and hesitant, each one echoing on the hardwood floor. My foot snagged on Duke’s favorite dinosaur—the one with the floppy purple spikes. I muttered an insult to the toy that was missing half its leg.
Strange.Duke usually followed me no matter what, but I didn’t even remember him being on the bed with me when I sprang out of it.
Over the stove, the digital clock on the microwave glowed green. Its harsh, blinking numbers screamed 4 a.m. in the dimly lit kitchen.
Rrrring!
I followed the sound. It was the burner phone. I rushed to pick it up.
“Hello?”
“Rose, fuck, finally!” Sean’s voice shattered the ringing, his tone urgent and laced with a barely controlled panic. “I need you to put together your things and pack a bag.”
A prickle of uncertainty crawled up my spine. “What’s going on?”
Something wasn’t right.
The phone crackled. “Remy’s system was months behind. So was Lucas’s. Your father wants you in Chicago—now.”
“What?” That was all I could say. I was starting to panic.
“I-I think someone made changes to the system. Listen. I’ll be there to pick you up in twenty minutes. Lucas might be there sooner. Do not open the door unless you hear one of our voices on the other side.”
“If the system was months behind, that means?—”
“Max was released months ago.” Sean cut me off.
My stomach twisted. I think I had to throw up.
Was that really him I saw the other day?
I had a bad feeling—one I didn’t know how to swallow, like a bitter pill lodged in my throat. That inexplicable feeling of being ...watched. No matter where I turned, it clung to me like an obsessive shadow, refusing to release its deathly grip.
My fingers trembled, inching to reach for the nearest light switch, but fear rooted me in place. I stood paralyzed, terrified to move. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was stronger.
I could feel him.
“Rose?” Sean’s voice was more demanding than usual. He sounded scared for me.
My heart dropped. It sankdeepin my chest like a stone thrown into a lake. I was rooted to the spot. Every fiber of my being, every natural instinct I had, screamed at me to turn, to run, to do anything but stand frozen, but the room seemed to hold its breath.
“Hang up the phone, Rosalie.”
My gaze shot up at the realization.
