Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty- One
Fatigue settled deep in Ahmet's bones. The mission had stretched longer than expected, and all he wanted now was a hot shower, a few hours of uninterrupted sleep, and Asli.
The thought alone drew the faintest smile to his lips.
He could already picture himself finding her in bed, slipping in beside her without a word, burying his face against her neck just to steal in the scent that somehow made every exhausting day worth it.
Instead, the moment he stepped inside, silence met him. His eyes swept across the hall. Something tightened inside his chest. It wasn't enough to make him panic.
Not yet.
He turned toward the kitchen. The kitchen stood just as quiet. The kettle sat where someone had forgotten it. A half-filled mug rested on the counter. It was still warm.
His jaw tightened.
He walked back into the hall just as Matilda's aunt emerged from the corridor, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Oh... you're back." She welcomed him with a smile.
