Elias's POV

I didn't sleep that night.

Couldn't stop thinking about Mercer. About the enhanced monitoring starting in the morning. About the tracking devices. About how close everything was to falling apart.

Around three AM, I gave up trying to sleep. Got out of bed and paced my room.

My suppressant dose was wearing off. I could feel it. The edges of my control starting to fray.

I needed to inject again. But my hands were shaking too badly.

The syringe slipped. Clattered to the floor. I ...