I stayed silent, too.

Both of us breathed loudly, living in happiness bought with hard-earned fortune.

Things would be better now.

Letting the knowledge settle, I focused on the other man in my heart. “V…did you move him?”

“Yes. He’s in a different room. Warm with regular food.” She paused. “I’ll keep an eye on him. I promise.”

I squeezed my eyes. “Thank you.”

An awkward silence fell, amplifying our unspoken need to talk about Jethro.

Jethro is still heir. He’ll end this. I know he will.

“Jasmine? How—how long—?”

How long will he be gone?

I was greedy. He’d been awake for only minutes, yet I wanted him now. I wanted to touch him, kiss him, hold him—cradle the truth in my hands. But that wasn’t my only reason. The real reason sat like a sinister splodge on my joy. How long will I have to endure Cut’s whims?

I’d been lucky these past three days. I had no illusion that luck would last.

Jasmine read between the lines. “How long is irrelevant. You’re mine. I’ll do what I promised, Nila.”

Fresh tears sparked into being. “I know.”

You’ll do your best, but ultimately, I’m alone.

Just like I’d been alone when Jethro controlled my fate. I guess nothing had changed. It was still up to me to slice out their loathsome hearts.

“And Ke—” I cut myself off. Stay in riddles and code. Who knew what lines were tapped and which walls had ears. “The other one…is he awake?”

Jasmine sighed heavily. “No.”

The single word throbbed with sadness, giving no room for questions.

A loud rustle, then a quick, “I’ve got to go.” A second later, the dial tone rang loud and empty.

Pushing away from the cupboard, I placed the phone back onto its cradle. Her phone call left me jumpy with hope and desolate with sorrow. I wanted them both to make it—hearing only Jethro was awake was bittersweet.

He’s awake!

I hugged myself.

He hasn’t left me.

Slowly, I padded toward the bed where I’d set down the Weaver Journal. At the last second, I changed my mind. I couldn’t handle reading about ancient conspiracies and pain. I needed to cleanse my thoughts with something I had utter control over.

Switching direction to the chaise lounge, I upended the basket where I’d stuffed a damask panel and Georgian lace.

He’s awake.

Those two words were now my favourite in the entire English language. I smoothed out the damask and pulled a needle free from a pincushion.

He’s awake.

Better than alive.

He’s awake.

Fate had finally been kind—the tables had finally turned.

Everything will be different now.

Cut, Daniel, and Bonnie would take Jethro and Kestrel’s place in the ground. The balance of good and evil would right itself. And Vaughn and I would continue with whatever dreams we had with no guillotine hanging over our future.

Switching on another side lamp, I bent to my task of repairing the lace with painstaking needlework. It wasn’t late, but the sun had set a few hours ago and Hawksridge creaked around me, depositing its residents into the night. The growls of motorbikes shattered the wintery air, Black Diamonds disappearing to run another smuggling delivery.

I lost myself in the exquisite craftsmanship, giving myself over to scattered thoughts. Jaz and Vaughn’s rescue mission had gone unnoticed. Flaw had done the impossible. Jethro had cheated death.

We won.

Could Cut tell? Could he feel that his sons weren’t dead?

It didn’t matter.

His arrogance was his undoing.

Tick tock. Tick tock.

His time is running out.

“She wants you, Nila.”

My head snapped up.

My room was no longer empty. It had invited a visitor while I napped on the chaise. The lace I’d been working on littered the carpet and the needle harpooned my denim skirt, sticking upward like a tiny lance.

Flaw headed toward me, hands in his pockets. “Did you hear me?”

I blinked.

By day, I left the dresser pushed away from the doorway in case legitimate requests meant I had to open it quickly. But by night, I shoved the heavy armoire across, allowing a false sense of safety.

How long have I been asleep?

Sunshine sparkled on the horizon, turning my side lamp mute with fresh daylight.

Oh, my God, I slept all night?

I didn’t feel rested. I felt tired and foggy.

Jethro…

He’d been in my thoughts all day. All night. All my life.

He’s awake!

I missed him so much—missed his golden eyes, his hesitant smile. I missed the epiphany when he finally broke and let me put him back together again.

I miss you…

“Nila…you awake or sleep walking?” Flaw clicked his fingers in front of my face.

I flinched. “I’m awake. Sorry, just a bit fuzzy.”

“When was the last time you slept properly?”

I shrugged, plucking the needle from my skirt and stabbing it into the pincushion. “Can’t remember.” My eyes burned from tiredness; wooziness existed in my brain.

He scowled. “You do realise they’re safe. You can relax a bit without grief ruining your sleep.”

Standing, my body creaked in protest from sleeping on the chaise. I stumbled forward with vertigo and my cell-phone thudded to the carpet by my feet.

Huh. I don’t remember retrieving it from my bedside.