“At the apartment,” I reply.
“Then get back there,” he says quickly. “If the aunt’s behind this and she’s making contact, she might move soon.”
The words barely register before something colder settles in my chest. I end the call and turn back toward the building. My pace is already faster, my instincts screaming louder with every step.
The apartment door opens too easily. The silence inside hits first. “Nora?” I call, already moving through the space.
No answer. The room is empty. My chest tightens, something cold gripping hard as I scan quickly. I quickly take out my phone, already pulling up the tracker I installed on her phone. My jaw locks as the location loads.
She’s moving. Away from here. And toward her aunt’s house.
“Damn it,” I mutter, already turning back toward the door.
Fear hits fast. Sharp. Because now, I’m not ahead of this anymore. And if I’m too late…I don’t let that thought finish. I walk out of the apartment, hoping I get to her before she’s harmed.
Chapter Seven
Nora
My hands won’t stop shaking.
I curl them tighter in my lap, pressing them together like that might steady them, but it doesn’t help. Nothing helps. Not the movement of the taxi. Not the blur of passing lights outside the window. Not even the driver’s quiet humming, like this is just another normal ride.
My chest is tight, my thoughts racing so fast I can barely keep up. And no matter how many times I try to calm myself down, the same words keep repeating over and over again.
She’s in danger.
The memory of her voice on the phone replays in my head, frantic, breathless. Nothing like the calm, controlled tone I’m used to. “Nora, you need to come. Something’s wrong. I think someone’s here.”
I squeeze my eyes shut briefly, my heart pounding harder. I shouldn’t have left. I should have waited for Asher. I know that. He told me to stay. He told me…
I shake my head slightly, pushing the thought away because it doesn’t matter now. I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing. Not when she sounded like that. Not when there was even the slightest chance that whoever wanted me gone…went after her instead.
My stomach twists at the idea.What if this is my fault? What if they couldn’t get to me, so they—
“Almost there,” the driver says, breaking into my thoughts.
I nod quickly, even though he’s not looking at me. “Thank you.”
The car slows, then stops. I’m already reaching for the door before it fully settles. I step out quickly, barely waiting to hand him the money before turning toward the house.
I rush up the steps, and the first thing I notice is the quietness. It’s too still.
My chest tightens again as I stand there for a second, staring at the familiar building that suddenly doesn’t feel familiar at all. I take a step forward, then another, my pulse loud in my ears as I approach the door. For a brief second, hesitation creeps in, wrapping around my thoughts like a warning.
I swallow hard, my hand hovering near the door. “I can do this,” I whisper to myself, even though I’m not entirely sure I believe it.
I think about the morning. About the way he showed me how to stand, how to move, how to react. It wasn’t much, but it’s something. Taking a steady breath, I push the door open.
“Auntie?” I call out, stepping inside cautiously.
Silence. The air feels different immediately. Still. Heavy. Like something is waiting.
“Auntie?” I try again, my voice louder this time, but it echoes, unanswered.
My grip tightens slightly as I step further in, my eyes scanning the room. Every shadow suddenly looks deeper than it should.
“Nora.”
