hel

rm

she

familia

eep and memory. My body felt heavy, limbs foreig

ide lamp painted soft

asn't

st tig

e wa

l slammed b

al

nds grab

lace bei

od on m

uns

's icy

an fa

wn s

right with

moved in

d. Panic explode

mi

he back, shirtsleeves rolled up. He looked exhausted,

of him made m

taller, but my a

lifting to steady me, but dropped

fro

his eyes-quick and sil

d, the apology tumbling out

," he said, his voice low. "You

to my chest, trying to disappear.

did I g

ne was softer now. His eyes dropped to m

oc

t sounde

ng felt

u

qu

and steady, like he was choosing ever

a

tered somethi

ered my mouth, shoulders shakin

with something heavier. He stepped closer,

to hurt you,"

wanted to go home.

lled. But he d

onto one knee beside the bed

murmured, "

ing my face, humiliate

ust resting his hand on the edge

k at

ced myself to

Calm. Steady. No anger. No

d again. "No one will

e-that low, certain t

d wouldn't stop. The han

ath qu

e trembling," he said, his brow fu

ng the blanket tighter. "I

As if every movement had

tretched

h

uietly, "I need to

twisted.

his voice stayed gentl

e question, but from

ed, but no wo

. Patient

y didn't. They just... grabbed me

's jaw

ing else," I hurried to

to have held for hours. A flicker of

e clarified, seeing me

kneeling there, keeping hi

at made me cry

t tightened. "I thought y

apped to mine. "

.. ru

ot warmly, but as if somet

I'm more angry that someone else found you first." H

est. No one had ever said

.." I wh

ive you some space. Vanc

one st

im, but from the sudde

diately. "Rachel...

ing my head. "I just... I don'

in his face. The

lone," he said.

ened with a

en he saw me. His expression shi

lley is clear. The bodies are mo

s cold again-the way it was with others.

The men who grabbed he

iding back to me, the rage softening. "Warn him. No bloodshed unless he fo

his head.

osing the d

fell sile

ness gone, replaced by that carefu

d. "Will y

hitched. Th

not going

n-closer this time, bu

e should ha

kept the nig