Every shadow felt too deep. Every sound from downstairs made my heart jump.
I’d lived like this for months.
In Italy, it had started slowly. A man who lingered too long near my building. A car that appeared twice in the same week. Someone who asked the café owner questions about me in a language he didn’t think I understood.
I did understand.
And I ran. I didn’t plan on staying there anyway. I just wanted a few nights to grieve.
I brushed my fingers over Emmy’s cheek. She slept on, peaceful, unaware that her life had been marked the moment she was born.
A knock at the door made me jump.
A woman with warm eyes and a gentle smile peeked in. “Hi. I’m Nora. Wolf’s wife.”
“Oh—hello.” I lowered my voice. “I’m Laney. And this is Emmy.”
Her face softened instantly. “She’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Saint told us a little. He said you might be staying for a while.”
If we survived, I thought.
Before I could answer, three older women appeared behind her like they’d materialized out of thin air.
“Oh my goodness,” one said. “Is that the baby?”
“She looks just like Saint,” another declared.
“I told you he’d have beautiful children,” the third said smugly.
Nora laughed. “These are the Magnolia Ladies. They run the town. And everyone’s business.”
“I heard that,” one of them said cheerfully.
“I’m sorry,” I said, overwhelmed. “I didn’t mean to cause a fuss.”
“Oh honey,” one said, patting my arm. “In this town, babies are never a fuss.”
They were kind. Warm. Curious.
And for a moment, I almost let myself believe we were safe.
Almost.
Wolf appeared in the doorway. “Let them rest. We’ll talk later.”
The women finally dispersed, reluctantly.
After they left, exhaustion hit me like a wave.
I lay down next to Emmy without meaning to.
When I woke, it was darker.
And for one terrifying second, I couldn’t remember where I was.
