Chapter Five

Nora’s POV

The side-door buzzer sounded at 7:49 p.m.

I was already standing in the middle of the main floor, keys in hand, every light except the low warm ones near the staircase switched off. I did not check the monitor. I simply crossed to the entrance and released the lock. The night air rushed in, cool and sharp, and then Luca stepped through. The door sealed behind him with a soft electronic click that felt final.

For a moment we only looked at each other across the dim space. All the careful language of product specifications and professional distance had burned away against the dresser two nights...