Ares's POV
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the silence. The kind that did not belong in a place like this.
The sheets beside me were cold. Jasmine's side of the bed… empty.
I sat up instantly. My head was pounding from the two hours of sleep I had managed to steal, but that did not matter now. The safe house was supposed to be secure. We had guards, cameras, a system that could pick up movement within two miles.
And yet… she was gone.
"Jasmine?" I called out, my voice echoing faintly as I stepped into the hallway.
Nothing.
I tried again, louder this time. "Jasmine!"
Still no reply.
My chest tightened. I moved fast, checking the rooms one by one… the kitchen, the living room, even the tiny study at the corner. Everything was in place, except her.
The coffee pot was cold. The lights were off. The window in the kitchen was slightly open, letting in a weak breeze that made the curtains flutter.
She was definitely gone.
