The Bond Between Us ( Anastasia and Herman) novel Chapter 889

Herman had once suspected Sandy—and even Asher.

But it turned out neither of them was to blame.

Whoever did this, it wasn’t them.

The scene had been brutal. The four kidnappers were found dead, their faces unrecognizable from the violence. At the cave, police discovered blood from a fifth person—someone who wasn’t among the dead or Anastasia. But the DNA didn’t match anyone in the system.

So who was the fifth person? No one knew yet.

Until that person was found, what really happened in that cave would stay a mystery.

The house was steeped in shadows. Herman reached for the light switch, but Anastasia stopped him, panic flickering in her eyes. She couldn’t stand the light.

She seemed made for the dark now—like a wounded creature, hiding away, afraid to be seen, afraid to be touched.

She wouldn’t let Herman near. Wild-eyed, she pushed him away, her voice breaking: “Go! Just go, please!”

The heavy door slammed between them, sealing her in.

Herman stood there, fists clenched, his breath ragged with helplessness. He pressed his forehead against the wall before slamming his fist into it, desperate to let out his pain.

Salma, Anastasia’s mother, had barely left Southridge Estates since the incident. Hearing the commotion, she hurried upstairs.

“Son, how is Ana?” she asked, her voice trembling with worry.

Herman just shook his head, lost for words.

Salma knocked softly, her voice small and pleading. “Ana, honey, it’s Mom. Please, open the door for me, will you?”

Inside, Anastasia was curled up beneath her blanket, hands clamped over her ears, shutting out the world. Every time she closed her eyes, the horror replayed in her mind, swallowing the last bits of light inside her.

She didn’t answer the door. Instead, her voice rang out, raw and desperate: “Just leave! I don’t want to see anyone! Go away!”

Salma’s eyes filled with tears. She’d cried so much these past few days, her eyes were nearly swollen shut.

If it hadn’t been for James and his quick thinking—thank God for that—Anastasia might have suffered permanent damage from the overdose. She could have lost her memory, her mind, even the use of her limbs.

The four kidnappers were dead, taking their secrets with them.

Police had uncovered what little they could: the four were all recently released convicts, no family, no connections, no money, no messages—nothing. Too clean, almost suspiciously so. No one could figure out how these four came together. They’d done time for different crimes, never met before, no overlap at all.

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