Lila’s POV  

  

  The house felt empty with Mom gone for her night shift.

  

   I stood in the kitchen wearing nothing but an old oversized T-shirt and a pair of plain white cotton panties, eating cereal straight from the box because I was too lazy to grab a bowl. 

  

  The microwave clock glowed 11:47. Mark, my stepdad, was still upstairs in his office.

  

  I had heard him on a call earlier, his deep voice rumbling through the walls, and then the soft click of his door closing. Now I heard  his footsteps started down the stairs, heavy and unhurried.  

  

  My stomach did a little flip, I told myself it was just...