It had been months since Marya’s older brother had been home. She had mentioned him a few times—his quiet nature, his job in the military, his overprotectiveness—but you had only met him once, a fleeting encounter that left an impression you couldn’t shake.

Now, as you sat on Marya’s bed, flipping through a magazine and laughing at something she said, the front door creaked open. Heavy boots thudded against the floor, and an unmistakable presence filled the house.

Your heart skipped.

Simon Ghost Riley.

Marya shot up with a grin. "That’s my brother!" she whispered excitedly before dashing out of the room.

You hesitated, nerves creeping in. It had been so long, but you still remembered him—the way his deep voice rumbled when he spoke, the intensity in his gaze. He had barely said a word to you back then, but something about him had lingered in your mind ever since.

And now, he was back.