That soft glow creeping under the door had caught my eye more than once as I tossed and turned in my bed. I blinked at it again and again, each time expecting it to magically turn off all by itself.
But it didn’t.
Someone probably just forgot and left it on by accident. It was a simple enough explanation, and I’m sure it happened more than it should…but something about it had made my skin crawl—made me feel like I was in the start of a horror movie where the girl makes the dumb decision to go investigate the strange noise barefoot in the dark. And yet, there I was, climbing out of bed like I was the main character. No flashlight. No pants. Just my oversized T-shirt, my borrowed boots, and that little knot in my stomach I couldn’t shake loose.
Because something about that light being left on didn’t sit right with me.
Maybe it was just leftover anxiety or something from the dream I’d had—the one with this very barn and Heath standing there in the dark, not doing anything but just…watching.
I’d woken up covered in sweat with my heart in my throat, too shaken to cry and too tired to scream. And now I was creeping toward possible danger like the world hadn’t already taught me better.
I hated how that stupid dream had me so on edge.
I’d left Heath weeks ago, and yet he still had a grip on me. It pissed me off, honestly. How one man’s cruelty could linger like that.
Maybe that was the real reason I went to the barn—because I needed to prove that dream…that he…didn’t own me. That fear didn’t get to decide who I was anymore.
I squared my shoulders as I reached the door, took a reassuring breath, and stepped inside. The smell of hay and leather hit me first—familiar now and even comforting. A few of the horses stirred in their stalls, lifting their heads as I passed. Dolly nickered quietly, and I slowed, reaching over the stall door to brush my fingers gently over her nose.
“Hey, girl,” I whispered and looked around. “It’s just me…being stupid and dramatic.”
Running my hand down the horse’s cheek, I tried to absorb some of her calm and hoped it would settle the jitter in my bones. “Someone just forgot to turn the light off, right?” I murmured, half to her and half to myself. “Nothing to panic about. This is whatbravelooks like. Doing things even when you’re scared.”
I gave her another pat and took a few more slow steps down the center aisle, peeking into the stalls and counting them like that somehow proved everything was fine. My heart beat too fast, but at least I was moving. Doing the hard thing. Showing up for myself.
I was halfway to the back when a door creaked open behind me.
Instinct caught me by the throat. I spun around fast and screamed as a figure moved toward me.
No, no,no, no, no.
I flailed, swinging my arm out and stumbling back, adrenaline blinding me to logic and reason. My arm caught something sharp on the edge of a stall and I cried out, cradling the injury as I backed away in a panic.
Make it count,Norah’s voice echoed in my head, calm and clear despite the thunder in my chest.If a guy’s coming at you, go for the soft spots: eyes, throat, groin. Don’t stop until he does.
My fists came up in front of me, and I shifted my weight like she’d shown me. Elbow tight. Thumb out of the way. Knees bent, ready to strike.
“Whoa—whoa, Andi—it’s me! It’s just me.” Zane’s rushed voice cut through my panic like a cold splash of water.
I froze mid-swing, my breathing ragged and every muscle in my body trembling as his face came into view.
Not Heath.
Zane.
My lungs started to burn from lack of air, and when I finally sucked in a breath it hurt. But the sudden flood of relief didn’t last long, because my hands were still up. My knees were still locked. My body was still ready to fight for its life. And I could tell by the look on his face that heknewthat kind of fear didn’t come from out of nowhere. His face appeared fully now in the glow of the overheard light, his hands raised slightly like he was calming a spooked horse.
“You okay?”
I pressed my palm to my forearm, already feeling the sting of torn skin beneath my fingers. I was breathing too fast. My knees felt shaky, and my brain still hadn’t quite caught up.
He stepped closer but kept his movements cautious. “You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing,” I said quickly. “I didn’t know anyone was out here. You scared the shit out of me.”
He nodded but still watched me closely. “Yeah. I could tell.”
I glanced away, trying to slow my breathing. “I thought someone left the light on, and I came out to turn it off.”
