Page 135 of Desperate People

Frustration twists into rage.

But the hunt? It’s only just begun.

And I’ll find him.

No matter how long it takes.

No matter where he hides.

Chapter Thirty-Three-Lucy

Okay, so I really don’t like going to bed without my husband.

And I like it even less when I wake up without him.

The bed feels colder than it should, emptier than it ever has before.

I shake off the lingering sleep and head to the shower, letting the warm water wash away the fog from my mind.

After I get dressed—simple, comfortable, a soft dress with flats—I pause when something catches my eye on the floor.

Not your usual outdoor dust.

No. It’s more like potting soil, dark and clumpy with little white balls.

Curiosity pulls me toward the closet, and there I find them—Balor’s shoes, the soles smeared with dirt.

My brow furrows.

What the hell does that mean?

But there’s no time to puzzle it out.

I’m never a morning person, especially when I don’t have to be anywhere early.

My schedule lately swings between long days in the office and nights spent at photoshoots or galas—social whirlwinds where makeup artists work their magic, and I play the role expected of me.

Sleep is sacred.

But still, it’s later than normal for a Friday morning.

I assume I missed Balor, and it kind of makes me sad.

So imagine my surprise when I walk into the kitchen to find my sexy-as-fuck husband standing there, sleeves rolled up, the light catching the faint glint of tattoos on his forearms.

He’s sipping coffee, the rich aroma filling the room.

“Morning, Angel,” he says softly, walking towards me and brushing a kiss along the side of my mouth.

I nod, too stunned to speak.

“Coffee?” he offers.

I can only manage a quiet, grateful nod.

And just like that, the morning feels a little warmer, a little more like home. He moves with grace and ease, confident as he prepares my coffee exactly how I like it.

I would have liked it anyway just because he made it.

---