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Static.

Nothing.

He frowned.

“Rafe, respond.”

A burst of white noise.

Then silence.

Ghost’s entire body changed. He moved in front of me. Not behind. Protecting me.

“Stay here.”

The words hit somewhere raw.

Stay.

He stepped farther into the darkness, one hand lifting the radio again. “Falcon.”

Static.

“Brick.”

Nothing.

He swore under his breath. My phone remained silent in my hand. No instructions. No threat. No demand. Just that final word glowing inside my head.

Walk.

I looked toward Blackthorn. Warm light filled the windows.

Home.

Alaric was in there.

I could go back. I could walk into the study. Knock this time. Tell him everything. Show him the messages. Ask again. Tell me. My throat closed. I already knew what he’d say.

Not yet.

Tomorrow.

When this is over.

When he decided I was ready. Ghost moved another few feet away. His attention fixed on the dead security light.

“Don’t move.”

I looked at him. Then beyond him. A narrow path disappeared between the trees. I’d walked it before. It curved around the lower gardens before meeting the old service gate at the rear of the estate. My pulse slowed.

No.

This wasn’t him making me do anything. I needed to understand that. The Clove Man didn’t own my feet. He didn’t own my body. He didn’t own one goddamn piece of me. If I took another step… it’d be because I chose it.

Bethany’s face rose in my mind.

He’ll tell you everything.