Alexander's POV:

Anna falls asleep before I've finished checking the window locks.

The villa is quiet in the specific way it is quiet when she's in it and resting — a different quality of quiet than when I'm here alone. I stand in the doorway of the bedroom for a moment and watch her, the specific ease of sleep on someone who has been through too much for too many consecutive days and has finally been allowed to put it down, and then I go to the ...