Bella woke to the sound of hurried footsteps outside the house. Soft at first. Then sharper. Voices carried through the window — tense, low, trying not to draw attention.

She sat up immediately. Something was wrong.

Alfred was already out of bed, tugging on his shirt fast. “Stay here. I’ll check.”

She didn’t stay. She followed him downstairs without a word.

By the time they stepped onto the porch, two guards were carrying something on a stretcher. A sheet covered ...