Chapter 42

SEBASTIAN

I had asked after her—just casually. Just to check in.

“Where’s Dahlia?” I’d asked Emily as she passed me in the hallway, her arms full of clean linen.

“Out on a delivery,” she replied without looking up. “Chestnut Avenue”.

Chestnut Avenue. That was over thirty minutes ago.

Too long for one drop-off. Even if traffic had kicked up. Even if Mrs. Langford decided to unleash a monologue about temperature standards and the soul of a soufflé. I used to deliver her order myself before we became this big. She’s a longtime customer of Seb’s place and quite predictable, too.

Something twisted in my chest. Worry. That old, familiar ache that came every time I couldn’t see her, didn’t know what she was feeling, or—worse—imagined the kind of hell Loren might’ve stirred in her.

No. I had to believe she was okay. Stronger than all that. She’d always been.

Still, I checked the front windows twice. Paced my office once. Glanced at my phone. N