XAVIER'S POV

Morning came by so quickly, I could hardly believe it. It felt like the sun rose just for me. For the first time in months, I wasn’t dragging myself out of bed like a man carrying chains. I was restless, excited, nervous—all at once. The fact that I was one step closer to finding Melissa was a thrill I couldn’t describe.

I got up, washed up, and made myself a simple breakfast—eggs and toast, nothing special. But even that felt different. Every bite felt like fuel for ...