Chapter 26

Chapter 25. Liora woke up before her phone alarm went off, her chest feeling tight for no apparent reason. Sunlight slipped through the cracks in the curtains, falling on the apartment floor in pale lines that offered no warmth. She sat for a long time on the edge of the bed, listening to Nolan's breathing from the next room. Regular. A little heavy. But steady. That was enough to keep her going. When she stepped out of the room, she knew immediately that something was wrong. The small kitchen was not calm. There was the sound of a glass being placed too softly. There were hesitant footsteps. There were two presences that did not blend, standing in the same space at a deliberate distance. Adrian stood near the window, his back facing half the room. Damien was at the dining table, one hand supporting an empty chair. Neither spoke when Liora appeared, but the tension in the air was palpable. "What's going on?" Liora finally asked. Not loudly. Not suddenly. Adrian spoke first. His face lo