rid

caught my eye. A man in a white coat was standing near the medication cart, his back to me. Somet

ping closer. "Can I he

his face. My stomach dropped. I

quickly. "Just ch

now. "I have worked here for years. I know

fell away, replaced by something cold and dangerou

ng me toward him. I screamed, but the sound was cut off as his other hand clamp

going to walk out of here together. Nic

mered against his forearm. I could smell latex, gun oil, and the sour edge of sweat beneath the borrowed white coat. I tried to pull air in

I told myse

ell door b

here with Emil

weapon steady. Alonso's eyes locked onto mine first. For a fraction of a second, something violent

id, his voice low and

nt nothing to me, but clearl

walking out of here. She's coming wi

ital dressed like a doctor," he said, his voice tight with pai

red at the edge of my vision. "It was working unti

ssly seeking room to breathe. Alonso noticed. Of course he noticed. His

rationalize it later because admitting the truth made the world too large and too dangerous. Now, with his rage held behind that st

hostage will make me let

my ear. "I think even you don't want hospi

ifted near the w

apped, "Alo

ht ignore it. His focus had narrowed to a terrifying point, every inch of him coiled a

eapons raised, movements sharp and controlled. Nurses screamed somewhere behind the outer doors. Someone sh

r end of the corridor, he

ard. She fought them anyway, panic tearing throug

un dug harder into my temple. "Tel

k away from him. "

pen the

't make

ski said. "But she

my ragged breathing. I hated the so

Something in it changed. No

uietly. "Listen to

head. I couldn't. Kowalski's a

our arm, Kowalski. If she pass

Then his forearm e

too loudly, humiliatingly desperat

"He knows you're useful. Th

and sharp cut

speak, my voice hoarse. "Then wh

ki wen

ttention sharpen

se you need me alive. You don't want to die here, a

ted against my hair.

pered. "Just

ugly. "That mouth is go

," Alon

t the whole corridor s

hes, weapons following every movement. Alonso walked after us, slow and controlled, his gun lowered bu

way narrowed into the

metal threshold. Kowal

pped. "I swear to G

rk rim around his irises, the inhuman stillness beneath the fur

enomous and intimate. "Don't blame me, sweet

e shov

a

it nothin

from my throat as my body tipped forward. Time stretched thin. I saw Alonso move - not like a ma

un aside and c

his grip was the only thin

ntum took

me, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other pinning me to his chest. We slammed into the first flight of stairs.

he landi

ld went

returned in fragments. Boots above us. Emiliano shouting for backup. Hailey crying

ng me with his body, his br

ered. His voice was s

read through my scrubs, too thi

," I said, my vo

urs," h

t have comfort

ng to hide, the feral light still burning in his eyes. He had saved m

part was, I wa

felt the ancient, predatory presence beneath his skin. But knowing and seeing were not the same. Seeing him move fa

a world I knew al

obody, was already