ra couldn''t help but worry, too. All those old alternative medicine experts had died—that had to mean someone had discovered something, something serious enough to send people all the way out there. She had a feeling someone was already watching her.

    She was exposed now, while whoever was behind this stayed hidden. Better to be careful than sorry.

    "ra, if you ever have to leave New York, promise me you''ll tell me first," Ryan said.

    He hated feeling like this-always thest to know what was going on with her, like she was living in a world he couldn''t reach.

    "Yeah," she replied.

    ra was already at the door when she suddenly stopped, a question tugging at her. "Ryan, are you sure I never told you anything about Dn? Even the tiniest detail?"

    She''d asked him before, but she still couldn''t shake her curiosity about her past with Dn.

    "Not a thing," Ryan said.

    ra nodded, headed back to her car, and remembered something she''d written to herself once: Don''t trust Dn.

    She must have really been on guard around him back then. Why else would she write something like that?

    She rubbed her forehead, knowing there was no point overthinking it. If she wanted answers, she''d have to go straight to the source.

    She took a deep breath and dialed Dn.

    He picked up but didn''t say a word.

    Sometimes, Dn''s silence was enough to drive her crazy.

    "Dn,e to my ce. I need to talk. I''m not going to Palm Bay for now. I''ll wait for you until ten tonight. If you don''t show, I''m leaving New York," she said.

    It was a threat, even if she had no idea where she''d go if she actually left the city.

    Dn stayed quiet and just hung up.

    ra headed home.

    She hadn''t been back in ages. She did a quick clean-up, then called the housekeeper at Palm Bay to remind her not to forget Milo and Buddy.

    Those dogs could eat for dave kno

    always running wild around the property.

    She couldn''t help worrying about them. Charles had left them behind to protect her, after all.

    When she finished tidying up, she

    ran down to the corner store,

    grabbed a few groceries, cameck made herself a bowl of noodles, and soaked in the tub for a while.

    After nine, she figured Dn wasn''ting, so she crawled into be

    Her body still hadn''t fully

    velne

    recovered-she needed every minute

    of rest she could get.

    At exactly ten, she heard a soft sound inside the apartment. Slowly, she opened

    her eyes and saw him-Dn, sitting right at the edge of her bed.

    She frowned and pushed herself up. "How do you know my door code?"

    Then she remembered-it was Dn. If he wanted to know something, he''d always find a way.

    He looked down, still in his suit, and asked, "What do you want to know?"

    ra had a million questions, but she knew him—if anyone could keep a secret, it was Dn.

    She leaned back against the headboard. After a couple days of good sleep, she looked less pale.

    "I want to know—did you remember anything?"

    "A little."

    "And the old man?"

    "He''s at the old house, resting."

    There he was again, acting like nothing ever bothered him.

    ra felt a surge of frustration, her mood written all over her face.

    She grabbed his tie, pulled him closer. His pupils widened in surprise, and he tried

    to lean back, but she just leaned in and bit his Adam''s apple.

    He froze,pletely still.