The shouting from outside had finally stopped, but the echo of Sofia’s voice lingered in my head like a ghost that refused to leave. I sat on the edge of the bed, knees pulled to my chest, staring at the floor. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Sofia’s face.
Damien had been gone for almost an hour after the incident. When he finally returned, his jaw was tight, shoulders rigid with barely contained frustration. He just stood there, watching me.
Finally, he crossed the room and stopped a few feet away. His voice was low, cold, and carried a warning edge I had never heard directed at me so openly before.
“Tell your little friend to leave,” he said. “Or the screams won’t be about you anymore.”
The words hit me like ice water poured down my spine. I looked
