He sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his temples. Sleep would be useless. His mind was too wired, too full of possibilities and threats.
A knock at the door made him tense instantly.
No one visited him unannounced.
He reached for the knife hidden under the mattress, moving to the door without making a sound. He pressed his ear against the wood. Silence.
Then, another knock. Softer this time.
Jude flipped the knife in his grip and opened the door just enough to see who it was.
A woman stood there, dark hair pulled back, sharp eyes scanning his face.
"You're a hard man to find," she said.
Jude didn't lower the knife. "Depends on who's looking."
She gave a small, amused smile. "If I meant you harm, I wouldn't have knocked."
"Try again."
She sighed. "I'm not here to fight, Jude. But if you make me stand in this hallway much longer, I might change my mind."
