Hazel POV
The next few days passed in a strange, heavy quiet.
Two plain-clothed men started appearing near our house. One always sat in a car across the street. Another walked past our block every few hours. They never approached us, never spoke, but I knew they were Asher’s people. Security. Protection.
At first, it made me angry. I didn’t want anything from him. But after the break-in, after seeing Lucas in the hospital bed and Mom’s bruised face, I stayed silent. We needed the protection. Even if it came from him.
Lucas was recovering slowly at home. Mom hovered over him constantly, her own cheek still fading from purple to yellow. I cooked, cleaned, and tried to act normal while the morning sickness grew worse. I threw up every morning before they woke up, then pretended I was fine
