Chapter 2

I gasped, sitting bolt upright.

The casita. The desert sun streamed through the window, warm on my face. My legs... I could move my legs.

No pain.

I scrambled out of bed, checking my limbs, my body. Whole. Unbroken.

The memories were still there, sharp and brutal. The betrayal, the trailer, K's voice, the slow death.

It was the morning of the trip. The day K would appear.

I had a second chance.

My phone showed the date. It was real.

A cold knot formed in my stomach. I had to see them.

Richard and Linda were in the small kitchen area, making coffee, just like they had in my memory.

"Morning, Alex," Linda said, a little too bright. "Sleep well?"

I nodded, my throat tight.

We drove to the festival. The same art, the same crowds. My heart hammered against my ribs.

Then I saw him. K. Leaning against a sculpture, watching.

He approached my parents. The whisper.

I watched their faces. The same shift. The same coldness.

We were back at the casita. The afternoon sun baked the sand outside.

"Alex," Richard began, his voice identical to my memory, "we need you to sign over your company."

Linda stood beside him, her arms crossed. "To K. It's his rightful place."

K lounged in the doorway, confident.

This time, I knew. This time, I wouldn't be their victim.

But I was alone. I hadn't brought my assistant on this "family bonding" trip. Stupid.

"Okay," I said, forcing a calm I didn't feel. "Okay, I understand."

They looked surprised. K raised an eyebrow.

"I just... I need a moment to process," I continued. "Can I... can I think about it for a bit?"

Richard glanced at Linda. "Don't take too long, Alex."

I needed to buy time. I needed to understand why.