Page 111 of Seen Knot Heard

Your stories are illuminating, as always. Your imagination continues to remain shockingly optimistic.I do hope you will choose the right ending for this one.

—L

A choked sob escapes my lips, the sound raw and broken in the sudden stillness of the kitchen. The warmth of the morning vanishes, replaced by an icy grip of fear that I know all too well.

Louie had read what I wrote while he held me prisoner. At the time, I knew it could happen, but by sending it back now, it feels like he’s invaded another part of my life, where there will be no happiness or escape from him.

Holden’s arms come around me, his vanilla scent enveloping me like a shield. “Chloe, sugar, what is it? What’s wrong?”

I can only shake my head, the words lodged in my throat.

Holden reaches for the note, his jaw clenching as he reads the venomous words. “It’s from Louie.”

Nathaniel growls. “Why would he send you a laptop?”

“I… He gave it to me to work on while I was with him.” My hand shakes as I close it. “He took it away after I?—”

I cut off as my gaze drops to Quinn, who watches us with wide, fear-filled eyes.

“It’s okay, princess.” I stroke the top of her head. “Nothing’s wrong.”

But that’s a lie. Everything is wrong.

Blake scoops Quinn up in his arms. “How about we go wake up Sprinkles, then get lazy Uncle Dom out of bed, okay?”

She wraps her arms around his neck and buries her face against his neck, seeking comfort. With a concerned look at me, Blake takes her out of the kitchen.

“It’s okay,” Holden whispers into my hair. “He can’t reach you here.”

I nod, but as my eyes sweep over the kitchen, I wonder how much time we have left before our world comes crashing down around us.

In the end, will love be enough to save us?

Or will it be the very thing that destroys us all?

Chapter Thirty-Four

Dominic

“Uncle Dom.”

Quinn’s whisper creeps through the fog of sleep, and I groan, pulling a pillow over my head. “Not now, princess. ’m sleeping.”

A large hand grabs my thigh over the blanket and gives me a shake. “Rise and shine. You’re needed in the kitchen.”

Dragging in a deep breath, I toss the pillow aside and sit up. I run a hand over my face, my morning stubble scraping my palm.

Through my fingers, I squint at Blake and Quinn, who stand next to my bed with no plan to let me go back to sleep. “What’s going on?”

“Aunt Chloe got a laptop and now everyone’s upset,” Quinn volunteers, her bottom lip trembling. “But I was happy about my coloring book and crayons. Is that okay?”

“Of course it is.” Blake smoothes a hand over his niece’s head. “Now that Uncle Dom is up, why don’t you let Sprinkles out? He can stay with you today.”

That makes her brighten, and she dashes out of my room.

Exhaustion clings to my limbs like a weighted blanket, tempting me to sink back into the mattress. Instead, I rake my black hair back from my face to stare at my bondmate, notaltogether happy with him and annoyed with myself for my jealousy. “Explain.”

“Louie sent Chloe a package, and it upset her,” he says. “But she’s trying not to let it show.”

---