Selene’s POV
I lay in bed, wide awake.
Rosalie’s small body is curled up against my side, her steady breathing soft and peaceful. Rafael is on my other side, his little hand resting on my arm, his warmth anchoring me.
I should be asleep.
But I can’t.
Not when Dominic’s mother is sleeping in the guest bedroom down the hall.
I don’t trust her.
She showed up out of nowhere, claiming she wanted to meet her grandchildren, acting like a loving, doting grandmother. But why now? The whole thing feels wrong.
I stare at the ceiling, my mind racing. If she found out about Rafael and Rosalie, who else knows?
A sick feeling claws at my stomach. I don’t want to burden Dominic with my suspicions. He already has enough on his plate.
And then there’s…the kiss.
I squeeze my eyes shut. God. I don’t even want to think about that.
***
The following day, I slipped out of bed carefully so I didn’t wake the twins. Then I go through my usual routine, dressing Rafael and Rosalie for school, brushing through Rosalie’s wild curls, fixing Rafael’s collar.
“Mom, do I have to go to school?” Rafael mumbles sleepily, rubbing his eyes.
“Yes,” I say firmly, handing him his backpack. “No arguments today.”
Rosalie yawns, grabbing my hand. “Will Grandma still be here when we come home?”
My stomach tightens. “I don’t know, baby.”
Rafael frowns, clearly thinking hard. “She’s kinda weird.”
I bite back a smile. “She is.”
He nods in agreement, as if confirming his own suspicions. “But she smells nice.”
Rosie giggles.
I let out a long sigh, ushering them out the door. The driver waits downstairs, and I watch as they disappear into the sleek black car, the engine purring to life. Only when they’re gone do I step back inside, feeling a strange emptiness settle in.
I head toward the kitchen for coffee, hoping the warm cup will steady my nerves. But as I pass Dominic’s office, something catches my attention. I freeze in my tracks. He’s in there. And so is his mother.
Her voice is low, cutting through the silence of the room with a deadly calm that sends a shiver down my spine.
“I know who took Santi.”