Page 35 of At the Edge of Surrender

My thoughts moved to the part that had bothered me the most.I believe he’ll know what to do. He’ll protect her and take her into his sanctum. I know it.

That unsettled feeling swamped me again. The sense that something had been off about my sister’s death that had been ruled an accident. I’d felt it from the beginning.

My therapist had told me it was only part of my grieving process. The denial and unacceptance of the facts.

But I couldn’t shake the dread that kept sinking way down deep to my bones. Thatfeelingthat something was all wrong.

I swiped my face with the sleeve of my shirt before I inhaled a shaky breath, and I tucked the letter back into my bag then stepped out into the main room.

Maci was on her hands and knees on the floor, hovering over the cards that were spread out on the carpet in front of her, the child searching for the match to a queen of eights. Wearing an adorable yellow sundress that made the gold flecks in her emerald eyes glint and twinkle when she looked up at me.

Her pale features angelic and soft, cheeks chubby with the cutest dimple in the middle of her chin.

“Auntie, look it!” She sat back on her knees and grabbed her stack of matches and held them high. “I got so many cards. I really do think I’m extra smart.”

“Wow. You did get so many,” I murmured as I slowly eased their direction, voice rough as I struggled to speak. “You’re putting your poor grammy to shame.”

“No way, Auntie. Grammy’s got no shame, don’t you worry. She’s the best grammy I got.”

My gaze slanted to my mother.

“She’s pretty amazing,” I whispered.

Mom’s head tilted to the side. “And her auntie’s pretty amazing, too. So strong and wise.”

Ha.

Wise.

I wish I would have been last night.

“That’s right, she’s very pretty. Just like my mommy,” Maci rambled as she went on the hunt for another card.

Another stake to the heart.

I inhaled around it, getting myself together enough to speak. “I think I’m going to go get some fresh air.”

Worry twisted Mom’s brow. “Do you want us to come with you?”

“No, I’ll be fine.”

I needed the quiet. The solitude. Some privacy to figure out what in the world I was supposed to do.

“Okay then.” It wasn’t quite an agreement, and before she could argue any more, I moved to Maci and dipped down to press a kiss to the crown of her head then slipped out the door.

It clanged shut behind me, and the second I hit the hallway, I rushed toward the elevator. Once I got there, I smacked the button, willing it to hurry. I watched the dial as it climbed, then blew out a breath when it swept open and there was no one inside.

I stepped in and pushed the one for the lobby, and my entire body vibrated as I waited for it to descend.

Feet itching with tormented energy.

I was almost ready to run when it came to a stop at the bottom and the bell dinged as the doors swept open.

Only I startled when a crash of energy suddenly banged against me when someone stepped into the elevator before I could escape it.

A riptide of severity.

The man ridiculously tall and wide.

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