After five years, her scent was still the same.
In the darkness, Sophia’s voice whispered.
“Ethan, I’m back. I finally came back to you.”
She placed something on my pillow.
“This is what I got for you five years ago at St. Mary’s Church in Alaska. My greatest wish was for you to be safe. I meant to give it to you back then, but I never imagined our separation would last this long…”
I couldn’t keep up the pretense of sleep. My voice cut through the air.
“Sophia Lane, do you think I’m that easy to fool?”
I flicked on the lamp. In its dim glow, I could barely read her expression. On my pillow lay a small charm of protection.
She didn’t answer me directly. She only followed my gaze to the charm and smiled faintly.
“Whether it was taking on that mission or bringing you this charm, my purpose was the same. Ethan, I want to stand at the top of the underground world. I want to be the woman worthy of you. I want us to live in peace.”
A bitter laugh escaped me.
“You did reach the top. But the one standing beside you now isn’t me.”
Finally, she looked straight at me. There was something in her eyes I couldn’t understand.