Sophia stared at Adam, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion. He looked back at her for a fraction of a second, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.
Then, he turned and closed the bedroom door, leaving her and her family locked inside. He took the small paring knife from his waistband.
This time, he did not descend the stairs. He returned to his previous hiding spot on the landing, crouching behind the low wall that overlooked the staircase.
He closed his eyes again, focusing his enhanced senses, trying to pinpoint the assassins' locations. This time, their movements were even quieter than before. He could hear almost nothing.
But he could feel a faint vibration through the floorboards, a subtle pressure in the air. They were directly below him, at the bottom of the stairs.
He took a deep breath. He knew this loop would not be as straightforward as the last. They had been surprised once. They would not be so careless again.
