you never forget. It's a wet, sizzling hiss, immedia

He had thrown his body over Sofia, shie

ack, sending a spray of scalding re

Sofia s

but his first instinct-his only instinct-

his eyes scanning her frant

finger. There was a tiny red spla

d waiter. He scooped Sofia up into his arms, ign

d toward

right p

ng in the c

arm was

ed it. But the deflection had sent a wave of bo

ring, the fabric of my blo

" I whi

im. He hadn't heard me. He was already

s a white-hot shriek that made my vis

haking. The waiter wa

f my way,"

rant. I didn't call an amb

e Family doctor, gritting my teeth so hard I

d stitched up half the mobsters in the city,

me spots," he muttered as he cut the shi

painkillers he offered. I wanted to

he penthouse. Ma

the fresh bandages with one hand. The silence of

ed my

d on Instagram

stomach. He looked pale, in pain. Sofia was holdi

ved me from the fire. T

The bandages were al

even loo

sn't just about the past.

ith a desperation that made

option. The arrang

s the

rning, the

nt

as stiff, his back obviously heavi

ned the door. "I... I reali

my arm. They went from

mbled. "Oh m

r me. "Why didn't you say anyt

look," I s

she's so fragile. The doctor said shock co

calling the best plastic surge

touch my g

d back, putting d

t and opened it. A diamond necklace glittered inside. "I'm

s sound that scraped my throat. "You sh

na,

I don't need your protection. And

his hand and threw

t o

pain in his back. "You're acting irrational because I saved

you want," I sa

the door i

ainst the cool wood, br

zed. A text

t. The waiter has been de

ack with

e. Just

sons, he repl

e spent the next two days at Sofia's bedside, feeding her

the city lights, feeling the burn

tting in. It was cold a

t angry

as