Still, the sight of the blood on something so pure and innocent sent a shiver down his spine. He quickly changed her into fresh clothes, bundling the soiled ones into a ball. Holding her close for a moment, he inhaled her sweet baby scent, grounding himself.
After placing Aria back in her crib, he stared at the bundle of bloodied clothes in his hands. His instincts screamed at him to analyze it further, to uncover the truth of what had happened. But another part of him, the part devoted entirely to Bella, urged him to honor her plea for trust.
With a resolute expression, he carried the clothes to the laundry room. He tossed them into the washing machine, added detergent, and set the cycle to cold water to remove the stains. As the machine whirred to life, he leaned against the wall, his
