The note stayed in my mind long after Adrian tossed it into the fireplace.

You burned my bridge.

Now I’ll burn yours.

It wasn’t dramatic flair. It was a vow. The kind that came soaked in gasoline, waiting for a match.

Adrian changed the security codes that night.

We added two more guards.

The nursery window got new sensors.

But still, I couldn’t sleep.

Because you can lock a house, but you can’t lock out fear.

Especially when it wears your face.

Especially when it used ...