Page 147 of Buried in Blood
I crawl backward, heart racing, body screaming at me to run—but there’s nowhere to go. I slide behind the bed, curling onto the stained carpet, knees hugged to my chest.
I hear it.
Click.
The door opens.
Slow.
Deliberate.
A single pair of footsteps enters the room—soft but certain. Like they already know I’m here.
My fingers dig into the cheap carpet. I don’t dare look up.
The door shuts.
The lock clicks into place.
A pause.
Then, “Harmony.”
My head jerks up.
Reese.
I don’t know if I’m relieved or terrified. Maybe both.
He steps forward into view, his face unreadable, jaw clenched like he’s holding back too much.
“You—” My voice cracks. “How did you—”
“I followed the signal. Dante told me where he dropped you. I’ve been watching since you checked in.” He walks to the edge of the bed but doesn’t kneel. Doesn’t soften. “You can’t leave this room until I say so. You understand?”
Tears burn behind my eyes, but I nod. “Thank you. For—saving me.”
He finally crouches down, pulling something from the inside of his jacket. A small black phone. Cheap. Burnable.
He sets it gently on the floor between us.
“It has five numbers,” he says. “Me. Evelyn. Astra. Dante. Lucien. No one else. You use itonlyif you’re dying or if Damien is closer than your heartbeat.”
I reach for it slowly, as if it might vanish.
He watches me, gaze sharp, intense. “He’s looking for you, Harmony. You know that, right?”
“I know.”
“He’ll kill you.”
I nod again.
“And yet…” His voice lowers. “You stayed long enough to save them.”
I swallow hard. “I couldn’t let him win.”
Reese exhales like he’s been holding that breath for days. He stands, moves to the window, checks the lock.
