Chapter 6 - WHAT DENISE SOLD
William searched for Lilith all night. Every mirror in the house went dark when he spoke her name.
Bella wanted to help, but a wave of nausea sent her running to the bathroom. She blamed the diner coffee. By morning, she wasn’t so sure.
William found her sitting on the floor with a pregnancy test in her hand.
“You don’t have to say anything,” she told him.
He sat beside her. “Is it positive?”
Bella nodded.
For a long moment, neither of them moved. Then William laughed once, disbelieving, and covered his face. Bella took his hand. The test frightened her, but the joy in his eyes was real.
They made a doctor’s appointment under Bella’s name. That afternoon, Denise turned up at William’s gate, demanding to see her.
Bella went outside before William could stop her.
Denise looked past her at the house. “You could have told me you’d moved in.”
“I haven’t.”
“The man at the diner said Mr. Norman was hiding something valuable. I only gave him your address. I didn’t know he’d follow you to work.”
“You took his money?”
Denise looked away. “I owed people.”
Bella had heard those words since she was twelve. This time she didn’t open her wallet.
“You need to leave,” she said.
Denise caught her wrist. “After everything I’ve done for you?”
Bella pulled free. “I remember what you’ve done.”
A guard escorted Denise out. An hour later, Bella received a photo from an unknown number. It showed Lilith inside a circle of white stone, her hands chained above her head.
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Beneath the photo was a message:
BRING THE KEY TO THE OLD COURTHOUSE BY MIDNIGHT. COME ALONE.
