trap door closing. She let go of her bag unwillingly, struggling to get her breath back. Only work. Only walls and paint and money. Nothing more. But when she let her eyes rove all ar

esophagus, the glass gripping tightly in his fingers. He'd promised himself he wouldn't. Won't look her way and recall things he had no business recalling. But he was a self-centered son of a bitch. And he wasn't playing games. "You're slipping." Elliot's voice had Alex grinding his teeth. He didn't even glance up as his longtime best friend sauntered into the dim lounge, his progress reluctant, his presence unwelcome. "You must go to bed," Elliot continued, dropping down in the armchair next to Alex. "You know that stress makes everything horrible." Alex scoffed over the rim of his glass. "I don't need a sermon." Elliot breathed out, fists folding against the bridge of his nose. "You brought her here." Alex stood facing him. "Yes." Elliot leaned in, elbows planted on his knees. "What are you going to do, Alex? That she'll forgive you? That you can wind back the clock before-" Before it was too late. Alex would not blink, but the force of it hit him like lead against his chest. "She doesn't know," Elliot snarled, pinning him with his gaze. "No." "Neither will?" They sat in silence. Elliot drew a tight breath. "You can't protect her from this." Alex glared to the side, fists balled up in her fists around the glass. "I can try." Elliot combed his hair back from his eyes, his voice dropping. "And what then if she decides to go ahead and try it herself?" Tears rose in Alex's eyes. Because she would. Clara was clever enough to be cruel. And when she did. He would lose her all over again. A Fire Waiting to be Lit Clara couldn't sleep. Not here. Not in this haunted house. She strode the length of her bedroom, restless of mind, split in heart. Something was not righ