Chapter 71:

Unwelcome Visitors

Ella’s

The kitchen was quiet except for the methodical sound of the knife moving against the wooden board, steadily slicing apples into thin, curved moons. The faint, sweet scent of the fruit filled the air, but my mind was completely elsewhere. Noah had left nearly an hour ago, saying he needed to check something out and promising he would return soon.

I had told him to be careful, yet ever since he walked out that door, a deep, persistent worry had kept me ...