strange, weightless calm, like

ar passes outside the hotel window, convinced it's someone from her past. By the time

f to drink. She keeps replaying the previous night, Adrian stepping closer to her in the alley, the storm in

tes th

dangerous part

ngs, Elena's heart l

cts hous

inds

hin an inch of its life. His hair is damp, like he's fresh from a showe

eals the breath rig

is low, searching

omething inside her softens when she sees the faint bruise

teps

round the suite with a slow, assessing sweep, like

sleep," he s

er did

orless laugh.

een them, taut and ful

ast night, what happened was a mistak

quite frustrated, but something

eant you harm," Adrian says. "Helpi

hard. "I don'

voice softer now. "But letting someone

eeper than

dow where morning light is spillin

" Adrian murmurs. "But

lse st

w who I really was

lose to you could

for knowing less than wha

n't say an

"We barely kn

red, until he's just within the boundary

the reason

r jaw. "You thi

know you're afraid of

eath c

ushes his thumb gently along her jaw, not touching the bruise, j

softly, "who are

he's burned her. "

ther. "Why? Because

she snaps. "Because know

sn't change. Not fear,

ly, not as an accusation but a truth h

don't want to t

oment, jaw ticking like he'

her space she didn't real

"We'll talk about

hales

ian isn

nswers for you," he says. "Ab

chills.

security team track the alley camera

es almo

shouldn't ha

is voice hardens. "He w

eart

in goe

owly, "that man kne

o

no

rough her veins

erself. "Adrian, you shouldn't

ain. "And I need you to understand

shut. "You don't kno

"You're in danger. Real danger. And I

s slice

"Why do you

till

etely

's exposing a piece of himsel

y, "I see someone who's been alone for too d

tightens

tell him to stop, but a knock sou

a fr

ront of her, protective and

ice. "Are you ex

akes h

, more forcef

ed male voice. "

art pl

he knows

she'd never

sharply. "W

s lung

es again, col

dange

e door. You can

tanding on the othe

as finally

t alarm, but before he can speak, the knob

hands

sion t

a whisper. "Elena... who

allows

hroat

s she open

ock c

begins