ARLENE

I stood with my back to the door once it was locked. The sound of it shutting echoed throughout the house and made me jump slightly.

I restrained myself from banging my fist against it, but there was no denying that I was frustrated beyond reason.

“What the hell just happened?” I muttered under my breath and pinched my arm in hopes that this was a terrible dream. But unfortunately, I was wide awake, and the worst had happened.

It was unnerving that Cole had come in here while I was changing my clothes, but what was more disturbing was that he had seen the tattoo.

He saw it,...