SOFIA VEZ

Sleep didn't come easily anymore. Not with Liam’s ultimatum echoing inside my skull. Not with Carlos’ scent still clinging to my clothes from this evening.

Not with the feeling that the threads of my life are all fraying at the same time.

I must’ve drifted off for minutes, maybe seconds because the next thing I feel is a vibration through the floorboards. A heavy thud then another.

My eyes snap open at that.

I slide out of the bed carefully so I don’t wake Cherry. My feet ...