Chapter 5

Her heart sank with the notion.

The impulse to run, to start over, was strong, but those were old fears talking. She wasn’t the same person—the same fragile, broken woman she once was. For the first time, Livia finally had some semblance of a life.

From the outside looking in, she was sure her existence seemed far from normal, small and isolated compared to most, but it was her normal, and she didn’t want to give it up.

She couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t uproot her life and run. The effects of her power would wear off in a couple of hours or even in a few days’ time. There was no reason to act rashly.

He’ll go away. He will. They always go away eventually.

The litany repeated over and over again, both a promise and a plea.

But, he didn’t leave.

One hour passed, then two, as she positioned herself near the door, gun trained, listening to him scream and rage and beat on the door. He circled her house, checking for another point of entry, trying to pry