THE HALLWAY outside Lily’s room was dim and lit only by the thin line of light that slipped through the c***k beneath her door. The compound was silent after the chaos in the garage, but Jeremiah’s pulse was still running hot, every muscle wired and tight. He stood with his back against the opposite wall, arms crossed, keeping watch like a shadow glued to her doorway.
He didn’t trust anyone tonight.
Not after someone had gotten close enough to grab her.
He had followed her from the garage without saying a word, letting her walk the short distance to her room on shaking legs. She hadn’t asked him to come. She didn’t need to. He would have followed anyway.
She closed the door softly behind her. He heard the lock slide into place.
For a long moment, he waited in silence, listening.
Then
