Selene’s POV

The first thing I noticed when I got home was the front door.

It was opened.

Panic coursed through me as I jumped out of the limo, not giving the driver a second glance. I raced to the door in my heels, then paused. From where I stood, everything looked normal.

But I couldn’t find them anywhere.

“Elias?” I screamed as I crossed inside and closed the door behind me. “Elias?” Fear embraced me tightly. The further I moved, the more it felt like my heart was being squeezed. The house was quiet.

Too quiet.

I didn’t care that whoever left the door open could still be inside the house. All that mattered was my son.

Footsteps echoed from the staircase, and I turned in that direction, my heart thumping so hard against my chest. And then, the nanny sauntered out. She halted when she took me in, her eyes narrowing.

“Miss Quill?” she started, her head snapping back. “I wasn’t expecting you till later tonight.”

I still held my breath. “Yeah, Camilla. Something came up. Where is Elias?”

“Asleep,” she muttered, continuing her journey down the stairs. “He went out quickly today. I guess he was tired from all the playing at the park.”

“You took him to the park?”

Camilla paused again, her eyes searching the panic on my face. “Miss Quill, I thought…”

“Shit! Camilla, I warned you. Do not let him leave the house. Is that such a hard instruction for you to follow?”

I had never yelled at her before, but tonight, I was on the verge of losing it. Camilla took a step away from me, her eyes wary.

"He had been cooped up in here for so long, and he wanted to get some air. I made sure to go in the evening when there was less crowd and he had a face cap on throughout. I was careful, Miss Quill."

“Careful? So why did I meet the front door open in the middle of the night?”

Her yes darted in the direction of the door and then back at me. I watched as her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

Maybe I was being too harsh. She wasn’t the one I should be angry at.

“When last did you see Elias?”

I was expecting her to say she was just coming from his room, but her next words knocked the wind out of me.

“I was with him about an hour ago,” she muttered, still eyeing me warily. “I read to him.”

“One hour ago?”

That was more than enough time for whoever left the door open to do anything to him. I was paranoid. I knew it. But Elias was my world, and I would do anything for him, including keeping him safe from the people who killed his uncle.

“Is there anything wrong?” Camilla called as I raced up the stairs, my feet echoing through the building. I ignored her, desperate to get to my son’s room.

I didn’t stop until I pushed the door open, until my gaze fell on his soft features, his chest rising and falling gently under the dim lights.

Relief washed through me as I moved to his side, the bed dipping with my weight. It didn't matter that he was asleep as I pulled him into my arms, rocking him gently. He whimpered in his sleep, but I only held him tighter, grateful that he was still here with me.

“Mommy?” His tiny voice made me look down at him. He scratched his eyes sleepily and tried to wiggle away from me. I was holding him tight.

I released my grip but didn’t let him go totally. That was enough for him because he stayed put, placing his head on my thighs.

I patted his hair gently, feeling his breath grow lighter. He was asleep in no time, but I stayed that way for a couple more minutes before placing him gingerly on the bed.

Camilla was standing by the doorway, watching.

“I’m sorry,” I sighed as we got out of his room, closing the door behind us. “I should have never yelled at you. It has just been a really long and draining day.”

“Did you see his father?”

Camilla and I never spoke about personal matters, but I knew that she'd always wondered. Anyone in her situation would. I kept everything about my son private, and as his nanny, it made it difficult to follow my instructions.

“You should go home, Camilla,” I whispered, still wondering why the living room door was open and what whoever it was wanted. “I’ve got Elias for the night.”

“Miss Quill…”

“And again, I shouldn’t have yelled at you. But when you decide to take him to the park, can you run it by me first? Elias is a child and knows nothing about what is happening. His needs and wants might be dangerous to him. It is my duty to protect him.”

“I will never put him in harm’s way,” Camilla said with so much passion. “You know how much I care about him.”

“I know.” I patted her shoulder gently. “Goodnight. And close the door behind you. I don’t want to meet it open again when I get up in the middle of the night.”

Leaving her in the hallway, watching my retreating figure, I head into my room to change out of the cocktail dress into something more appropriate for bed. I couldn’t let Elias sleep alone that night, so his tiny bed would have to do for the both of us.

I heard the door close downstairs just as I got into the bathroom for a quick bath. I was out again in a couple of minutes, steam clinging to the mirror, my towel wrapped tightly around me and another on my head.

I reached for the dryer on the vanity.

Gone.

Frowning, I crossed to the other socket. And then, I froze.

Lying on my pillow was an old, frayed wristwatch, its haunting eyes staring at me.

The very watch my brother was wearing on the night he died.