I raked a hand through my hair, my fingers tugging hard at the strands.
I had to find Emily.
I had to get inside.
I backed away from the entrance, scanning the house, my eyes darting to the second floor.
A glow of golden light seeped from one of the upstairs windows.
Then—
A tall shadow moved across the pane, pacing.
Malik.
He held a small child in his arms, his head turning slightly as if he sensed something.
I ducked fast, pressing into the deep shadows of a nearby tree.
So that was not Emily’s bedroom.
Where the hell was she sleeping?
My gaze roved the house, searching?—
And then I spotted them.
Two balconies.
Bingo.
I crept to the back of theestate, where the sturdy dormer windows jutted from the sloped roof.
I could jump high enough to catch the edge if I could get a running start.
I measured the distance, my muscles tensing.
Then—
I sprinted forward.
At the last second, I pushed off the ground with all my strength, fingers reaching desperately?—
And caught the top of the dormer.
My breath hitched, my arms burning as I dangled there for a second, trying to steady myself.
Then, with a grunt of effort, I hauled my legs up, scrambling onto the narrow structure.
I sucked in deep breaths, my pulse hammering in my ears.
But I wasn’t done yet.
The balcony loomed just above me?—
Several feet too high to leap from this position.
My stomach clenched.
