The Bound Between Us

Herman told Dailey to keep following Ben's trail.

But Ben had never crossed paths with the Salstrom family, or Anastasia. No grudges, no history-it didn't make sense for Ben to round up four ex-cons just to kidnap Anastasia for no reason. Someone else had to be behind it.

By the time Herman got home, it was well past midnight. He paused at the foot of the stairs, glancing up at the darkened bedroom window. No lights, just a thick silence. But he knew-Anastasia was sitting in the bay window, staring out into the darkness.

He headed upstairs, quietly opened the bedroom door. Anastasia flinched at the sound, gave him a quick look, then turned her gaze back outside.

Herman, respecting her space, sat down on the sofa a good ten feet away. He kept his voice gentle. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Can't," Anastasia replied, her voice so calm it was almost unsettling.

She was afraid to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw flashes of that awful night.

Herman watched her, struggling with what to say. Finally, he spoke. “That night... in the cave. Rowan was there. I went looking for him afterward."

Anastasia's brow furrowed at Rowan's name. She stared at Herman.

hadn't imagined it-Rowan really had been

to bring it up, but he couldn't keep it from her. Rowan had risked everything to save Anastasia. She deserved to

killed them. He got badly hurt. He's at a clinic on

had killed

Why would he go

always seemed to show up when she

Herman felt truly inadequate. Someone else had protected his wife-done what he hadn't. Seeing Rowan lying

saw Rowan herself,

He looked startled for a split second, then turned his face away, not wanting her to see

was rough, but he already knew if Anastasia was here, Herman must have told her. He didn't get why Herman would do that. Was 't he

managed, "Your

his face. He hadn't slept through the night since it

nothing," he said, stubborn as ever, not wanting her

the edge for years, survived

Rowan had done all this for her. If she