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though Luna remained in Florida, she moved into her own apartment not long after Grayson left.
    She couldn’t believe her sister was also in Tennessee. There was something to be said for the comfort of family and knowing you could always come home.
    Case in point, Grayson thought as she pulled into the drive at 3309 and cut the engine.
    The house sat off to the left at the end of the cul-de-sac. Her mother had left the porch light on for her, and it brought a smile to her face. Her brother, a Green Beret, was extremely conscious about security. He’d spent his life drilling his sisters and mother on the importance of taking precautions: Never let anyone know you’re out of town, have your mail delivery stopped until you return, keep at least one light on in the house, set your alarm, etc…
    Hopping out of the Jeep, Grayson pushed her disheveled hair behind her ears and grabbed her coffee before getting the bags from the backseat. The security lights came on as she ambled up the driveway. Her shoulders ached from the drive, and her butt was numb for sitting down so long.
    The flower bed stopped her in her tracks, like it always did. Mom had always said a well-groomed garden could make any house feel like a home. Grayson thought back to her own crappy apartment in Arizona, devoid of flowers, Josh thought they were a waste of money. Anger welled up in her chest, but she was determined not to let her past have a hold on her future.
    She leaned down and smelled the yellow roses, a smile tugging at her lips. They were her mother’s favorite. Their father used to bring her home yellow roses when he went away for work. A promise of a new beginning, he would say. Grayson’s smile disappeared at that thought, and she rolled her eyes, readjusting her bag.
    We see where that got Mom—alone.
    Grayson found the small silver key beneath the empty flower pot on the porch—not safe, but she had to get in somehow. She fumbled with the unfamiliar lock, and then pushed the door open. As soon as she entered the open foyer, she disarmed the security system using the same code as always. She shook her head at her mother’s predictability. Ethan would not approve.
    Her bags dropped with a thud onto the hardwood floors. She rubbed her face, feeling the exhaustion from the long drive. The faint smell of leftover sandalwood incense filled the air, and the trickle of the fish tank soothed her frayed nerves. Grayson rolled her shoulders and dropped her head, feeling the tension ease out of her.
    The living room was dark, and the kitchen was bathed in moonlight, giving it an eerie glow. She brushed a hand over the wall just inside the door, searching for the switch, and then flicked on the light. Colorful throw rugs were scattered about shiny hardwood floors, and the walls were hung with houseplants and her mother’s collection of eclectic, tribal masks from Africa. A large, comfy-looking green couch dominated the living room, and next to it, toys were piled in a box.
    Grayson looked at the clock—it was past nine. She’d assumed Luna would be here, but a quick check of all the bedrooms showed no bags or belongings to prove Luna was staying here. Grayson considered calling her sister to let her know she’d made it home, but she was exhausted. The idea of staying up all hours of the night to catch up with her sister made her eyes feel heavier. She’d call her in the morning.
    There was a note waiting for her on the table with instructions on feeding the fish, watering the plants, and letting out the cats. She looked around and didn’t see any cats. Maybe they were already outside. She shrugged and made her way to the spare bedroom down the hall, only barely noticing the photos of her childhood that lined the hallway.
    Grayson shed her clothes and crawled between the cool sheets. She was dead on her feet, but sleep wouldn’t come. She twisted and turned, trying to get comfortable in the strange bed. What gives? She thought irritably. She