The heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoing up the grand winding staircase felt like physical pressure against my chest.

“Move, Roxie,” Garrison whispered.

His voice dropped into that razor-sharp tone that cut straight through the pitch-black room.

In one quick movement, he rolled off me. The sudden loss of his warmth sent a cold shock through my body, leaving my skin tingling beneath the oversized gray cashmere sweater.

I scrambled backward across the duvet. My bare feet touched the hardwood floor without making a sound.

I grabbed the flashing yellow tablet from the pillows and quickly shoved it beneath the heavy velvet drapes of the window seat.

At that exact moment, the...