Page 35 of Bride By Initiation

No, they would just let themselves inside.

It has to be family or a friend who has unannounced access.

There's a loud knock. Sean's voice rings out from the other side. "Zara, let me in."

My pulse skyrockets.

What's he doing here?

"Zara!" he orders, banging again.

I shut the binder, get up, and open a drawer. I shove the binder inside, shut the drawer, and step in front of the mirror.

I wince at my reflection. I showered in the morning and my hair air-dried. It's a frizzy mess, and I have no makeup on.

It doesn't matter.

"Zara!" Sean shouts.

"Hold your horses," I reply, running my fingers through my hair before I step in front of the door. I fling it open. "What's the emergency?"

He shoves past me, shuts the door, and locks it.

The hairs on my neck rise.

Sean grabs my hand and leads me to the sofa. "Sit."

I obey, unsure what is happening.

"Is anyone else here?" he asks.

"No. Why?"

"Stay here." He gets up and searches my bedroom, then returns.

"Why are you searching my house?" I ask.

He releases a big breath. "Did you get any gifts?"

The binder flashes in my mind, but I lie. "Gifts? No."

He clenches his jaw and goes to the window, staring down at the street.

"Sean, you're acting paranoid. What happened?"

He spins to face me. "John must have been in my apartment."

My insides quiver. I ask, "Why do you believe that?"

"There was a box with a bow left on my bed. This was in it." He comes over, pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket, unfolds it, and hands it to me.

A drawing of the skull branded on John, but with some flowers and feathers, along with gray and black shading, fills the sheet. The initials S.O. are on the corner.

My mouth turns dry. I glance up, unsure what this means.

Sean blurts out, "My dad drew it."

"How do you know?"

---