Chapter 49

Olivia Martins

The door creaked open, stirring me from the edge of a restless sleep. I blinked against the soft morning light spilling through the curtains.

“Ryker?” I asked, my voice scratchy and low.

“It’s me,” he said gently. “Didn’t mean to wake you. Just needed a change of clothes.”

I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes as he disappeared into the closet. The bed still smelled faintly of him, clean and masculine, but it wasn’t Caspian, and every part of me ached with the reminder.

When Ryker emerged, he was dressed in all black. A fitted shirt, dark slacks, and polished shoes. His jacket hung perfectly from his shoulders, and he adjusted the collar like it was choking him.

“The burial?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

He nodded once.

I swung my legs off the bed. “I’m coming too.”

“No.” His response was quick, too quick. Then he hesitated, his expression softening. “I mean… no. He’s mad as hell, Olivia. I don’t know how