Chapter 12 · He Held Her Dead

I don't sleep.

I sit on the couch with all the lights on and my phone in my hand. Every noise in the hallway makes me flinch. Every car door slam outside makes me think it's Ivy coming back to finish what she started.

Claire offered to stay. I told her no. I need to be alone. I need to think.

Except I can't.

Every time I close my eyes I see the warehouse burning. I see Archer pulling me out of the flames. I see him in my last life standing in the doorway of my bedroom while the fire ate the walls.

He watched me die.

That's what I remember. That's what I know.

But tonight he came back for me.

I pull up the photo Ivy sent. The contract. The work order. Approved by L.A. Client request: vehicular incident, target couple, timeline urgent.

It looks real. The signature looks like his. But Archer said Ivy forged it. He said she's the one who ordered the hit and then pinned it on him.

One of them is lying.

Maybe both.

I stand up and pace. My legs are shaking. I still smell smoke in my hair.