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I blew my nose and knew my eyes would be puffy tomorrow. But I didn’t care. I’d already told Willow I needed tomorrow off. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be bombarded with customers.

Feeling drained, I snuggled into Attikus’s pillow and stretched out an arm to touch the empty spot where he would be if he were in bed with me. Exhaustion tugged at me, but I forced myself to stay awake for Attikus. I wanted to see him. It was only seven in the evening, but my body was desperate for rest.

I closed my eyes for a moment . . .

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

ATTIKUS

When I entered the house,silence greeted me.

I called out to Vanessa, but no one answered. I walked into my bedroom and found her sleeping in my bed. That image spread warmth in my chest. She was the reason colors existed in this world. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. Then she shifted, and her peaceful expression transformed into a frown as tears streamed down her face.

Why was my baby crying in her sleep?

“No!” She punched the air and kicked at the blanket. “Leave him alone!”

“Vanessa.” I gripped her wrist, fearing she might hurt herself.

“I’m going to kill all of you!” she cried as tears flooded her face with her eyes still closed. “Attikus!”

What kind of nightmare was she having?

“Vanessa, I’m here.” I held her hands down on the bed.

Then she sobbed and curled into a ball. I gathered her into my arms and held her as her anxious breathing subsided. What would have happened if I hadn’t returned home?

I pressed a kiss to her head. Then her body stiffened, and her eyes opened. She whipped her head toward me, and our eyes met.

She sat up and smiled as though she hadn’t just experienced a nightmare. “When did you get home?

“Just now.”

She cupped my face in her hands and kissed me. Then she hopped onto me and embraced me. We held onto each other for a long moment.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yes, now that you’re home.”

“Let me see that pretty face of yours.”

She straightened up. “It’s not very pretty right now.”

I brushed away the wetness that still lingered under her eyes. “Why were you crying?”

“It’s been an awful day,” she said as her expression changed. “I realized I’m capable of violence. There are new people on my shit list.” She held up a fist.

I stifled a smile. Was this the reason for her dream?

“Who are they?”

She touched my face and named the three people who had changed my life. She probably saw the question in my eyes because she gestured to the phone on the table. “That’s Miranda’s phone. She gave it to me.”

I grabbed it and used the code on the Post-it note to enter.

A video was already on the screen. I didn’t have to play it to know what it was. I recognized the clothing they wore that day.

Vanessa gripped my hand, and her worried expression told me this was the reason for her traumatic dream.