During breakfast, General Billy Holmes watched as a small smile lit up Sophie's face. He straightened, his heart beating faster. Declared himself then — her self-appointed shadow.
No one touches her. Not on his watch.
------------------------
The estate was quiet an hour later. The smoke had cleared. Only the smell of wet ash hung in the air.
"Walk?" Billy asked, nodding toward the garden path. No order. Just a question.
Sophia hesitated, then nodded. "Walk."
They fell into step side by side. Not too close. Not too far. His hands stayed in his pockets. Hers stayed wrapped around herself, as if she was cold.
For a while, it was just gravel under their boots.
"You always do that?" Billy said finally. His voice was low, the way it got when he wasn't giving orders.
"Do what?"
"Wrap your hands around yourself that way."
Sophia let out a breath that was almost a laugh. "No ...it's ...it's nothing." she dropped her hands from her body.
