ll places. Marco, my ex's older brother, and the

feet, but the exhaustion from the emotional bea

ng me as though I weighed nothing. The sheer strength of him, the familiar w

omething primal, clouded my senses. My cheeks flushe

s quickly appeared, holding out a blanket to him. He wrapped it around me gen

," he murmured.

naged to say, though the words felt clumsy as if my mouth didn't belong to me. I felt so

help and embarrassed at my current state. Marco followed closely, his presence an unsha

, "your father's medications are due, but the hospital has stoppe

en scrambling to keep up with the expenses, doing everything I could to make ends meet, but it wasn't enough. The

rward. "Where's the accounts office?

ched, bewildered, as he walked over and, with a few clipped words, han

on softening just enough to melt the icy resolve in

say. I ran to him and, before I could stop myself, wrapped my arms around his br

eeling the words were inade

, I saw a strange glint in his eyes, something that sent a quick ch

th the cautious part of me that knew nothing came free, especially with

I'm lis

an intensity that made me feel both vulnerable and strangely secure. The

but before I could fall, Marco reached out and caught me, holding me steady. His grip was firm but gentle, and for a brief

t say?" I stammered my vo

His gaze didn't falter, didn't waver. There was no sign of humor in his

nce been a part of my nightmares, who I'd barely dared to speak to in the past, was asking me to m

me his protection, his resour

ask, my voice trembling. "Wh

We both have scars, ones that are deeper than what anyone see

ears again, but this time, they weren't born of sadness or fear. They were a str

nly to himself, and his loyalty to his family had faltered long ago. I had every reason to run,

e, I whispered, "I'

He brushed a stray strand of hair away from my cheek, his touch lingering just a moment too long. "Take

anding there, soaked, my mind spinning. I watched him go, my he

eyes met with theirs and