Calder grabbed Evan’s arm suddenly and pulled him behind the kitchen counter. “Don’t breathe,” he whispered. Evan crouched low, heart pounding, aware of Calder’s rigid silhouette beside him. He didn’t know whom to trust—the strangers in the stairwell, or the trembling man who seemed to predict every move they made.
Two strangers stopped directly outside Evan’s apartment. One tested the door handle with a quiet, practiced twist. They were not forcing an entry, not just yet. Evan felt adrenaline spike. They seemed to know exactly what they were looking for. Calder’s hand gripped Evan’s shoulder, warning him silently not to move or breathe.