The Bound Between Us

Herman had once suspected Sandy-and even Asher.

But it turned out neither of them was to blame.

Whoever did this, it wasn't them.

The scene had been brutal. The four kidnappers were found dead, their faces

unrecognizable from the violence. At the cave, police discovered blood from a fifth

person-someone who wasn't among the dead or Anastasia. But the DNA didn't

match anyone in the system.

So who was the fifth person? No one knew yet.

Until that person was found, what really happened in that cave would stay a

mystery.

The house was steeped in shadows. Herman reached for the light switch, but

Anastasia stopped him, panic flickering in her eyes. She couldn't stand the light.

She seemed made for the dark now-like a wounded creature, hiding away, afraid

to be seen, afraid to be touched.

She wouldn't let Herman near. Wild-eyed, she pushed him away, her voice

breaking: "Go! Just go, please!"

The heavy door slammed between them, sealing her in.

Herman stood there, fists clenched, his breath ragged with helplessness. He

pressed his forehead against the wall before slamming his fist into it, desperate to

let out his pain.

Salma, Anastasia's mother, had barely left Southridge Estates since the incident.

Hearing the commotion, she hurried upstairs.

"Son, how is Ana?" she asked, her voice trembling with worry.

shook his head,

voice small and pleading. "Ana,

the door for me, will

curled up beneath her blanket, hands clamped

world. Every time she closed

last bits of light

the door. Instead, her voice rang out, raw and

to see

filled with tears. She'd cried so much these past

were nearly swollen shut.

hadn't been for James and

from the overdose.

mind, even the use of

kidnappers were dead,

little they could: the four were

no connections, no

figure

different crimes, never

brought

Lucas is here,"

Lucas was leading the

didn't trust anyone else with this case-there

it hit too close to

a steadying breath and turned to

anything happens, call me

was scared Anastasia might

nodded. "Don't worry. I'll

the kids to

out of harm's way.

Jason was waiting alone in the living room. He stood up

in, concern written all over

"How's Anastasia doing?"

just woke up. She's...

Herman sat

shaking hands.

smoking too much lately.

on that fifth

shook his head, looking

yet. Herman,

of planning. Try

remember-have you or Ana