XAVIER'S POV

The next morning, I was up before dawn. My body felt restless, like my bones refused to let me sleep even an hour longer. My suitcase was already packed from the night before, but I still found myself unzipping it, double-checking, then zipping it back again, as if arranging clothes could quiet the storm in my head.

Today wasn’t just another day. Today was the day I either reclaimed my family or lost them for good. I dragged myself downstairs, the hotel lobby eerily quiet ...