i’s

e grabs my arm to steady me before pulling me

h the fight take a

em who just threw Connor onto the floor. With a single leap over the counter, he lands on the fl

a, heading for the doorway where Joseph

nd his men. They seem to have already kicked three of them out. Connor is still in the hands of the

h is still conscious, his

stripping his white shirt and bundling it up. He press

room to get my phone. I call for the ambulance a

rity men are now in custody of Connor and hi

s,” I tell Jim as I kneel down n

reaches for the white gauze. “

fisting on my lap. “Broke

, did he?” he asks, snipping th

inhale, shakin

now soaked with blood,

al. Her brown eyes are wide and teary as she looks down at ou

ts and inha

ll be here soon,”

ar

r boss’s lips. I look at him to find him

didn’t know he wou

” he seethes, gasping for air. “Let me

k, then looks back at Jose

ith more energy than he seems to have. He lay

mile a minute. I hope he’ll be okay. He has to be. I do

ed off right now,” Jim tell

“Don’t. I have

l on the jeans and T-shirt I was wearing earlier. I fold the uniform and leave it on the c

notice that

nding in the door

st beat the hel

u doing here?” I ask, my voice feeble and shaky. I just can’t seem to stop sha

lishly handsome, and dressed in all black. Something nudges the back of my br

like cornered prey, with my predator approaching slowl

the doorway reve

gain, trying to sound a lit

ey eyes. Close enough that I can make out the fine scar running from the corner of his l

’ve seen a man this

not what I should be t

asks, his voice calm. “When did y

nki

e

s ri

” I tell hi

pleased or something. “Don’t mention it. I t

h

He did? When? I’ve never

use my middle

e. The only person who bothered to use

e even kno

I whisper, my a

it’s been thirteen years, and we are no longer kid

y. “I don’t know what

tilts his head to the side. “Look, Mari, we have to

games? Am I miss

a who he is when he crosses the little space between us

ers and lifts my face to his. My eyes crash into his. His, that are givi

ring at me like that. With him pressed up to me like this. I’m super

ath wafting across my face. “It’s m

lond, grey-eyed Stefan who looks l

tioned thi

ears ago,

the bullies who used to call me a motherless freak—something that they pi

I don’t remember. I didn’t