Hazel had managed to drift into a restless sleep despite the overwhelming anxiety that filled her every thought. The day had been an endless loop of fear and tension, each moment haunted by Ace’s threatening messages and the knowledge that he was out there, watching her. Now, as midnight approached, she lay in her bed, her breathing shallow and her mind racing with dread.
The house was quiet, the soft hum of the night offering a fragile sense of peace. But Hazel’s subconscious was alert, every creak of the house or whisper of the wind amplifying her unease. She tossed and turned, seeking solace in sleep that would not come.
Outside, in the shadows, Ace Knight moved with a predatory grace. He had been waiting for this moment, his obsession with Hazel driving him to the edge of madness. H
