the rundown Rosewood apartment building in Brookly

y frantically clawing at the seatbelt buckle. She unclipped i

ic

gaged. Gustav had locked the

lared in her eyes. "What are you doing?" she demanded,

he ignition. His profile was carved from stone. "Considering how you're dressed ton

er lungs. If Gustav walked her to the door-if he even stepped in

ng the panic down. She needed to hur

r voice as she could muster. "This dump is too dirty for your exp

ead to look at her. A flash of raw, bleeding pain crossed his b

ce as he walked around the hood to the passenger side. He yanked her door open, his large body bl

g the pavement, and immediately broke into a fast walk toward the

ps, he was right behind her. They stopped in fro

tly that she dropped them twice. When she finally got the key, she couldn

warm hand covered

k. He gripped her trembling hand, guiding the

through Harper's entire body. She yanked her hand aw

s door open and took a

other leopard protecting her cub, she threw herself into

If you take one single step into this building," she gritted out, emphasizing

ly pushed him over the edge. His anger boiled over. He stepped closer

is jaw tight. "Are you hiding some wild man in this d

traight into his furious blue eyes

. "Exactly. I have a man waiting for me ups

s entire body went rigid. His hands clenched into fists at

anger in his eyes slowly morphed into profound di

un ar

ked the door open, threw himself inside, and slammed it shut. The engine roare

drained from her body. Her legs gave out. She slid down the cold gl

he stairs. She unlocked her apartment door and rushed st

half-year-old Leo was fast asleep, clutching a stuffe

e in Leo's small, milk-scented blanket. The tears she had been

er clutch with shaking hand

ley answered immediate

muffled by the blanket. "I said the most awf

at her sleep

her tears falling freely. "For Leo's safety, Gustav an