t opened, the sound somehow loud

e first thing Meiyu noticed was the way he stood-shoulders square, posture straight, li

ight caugh

the elbow, exposing toned forearms and the faint glint of a tattoo coiling around his wrist. He didn't

Zey

vision swayed again. She blinked, her throat d

on the floor, the torn strap of her purse, the f

ask what

ff his jacket an

oice low but clear. "You

"I didn't... I just-" Her voice cracked. She

her to see the fine stubble along his jaw and the

e asked, his voice d

ead, though her

is jacket over her shoulders and glanced at one of his men.

. The others stood watch ar

ack to her. "C

t her legs fo

he slipped his arm under her knees and lifted

ed against the warmth of his

e replied.

the car, not hur

t. The jacket still hung around her shoulders, smelling faintly of

im, dazed. "Why...

ed her seatbelt and closed the door. Then

gan moving did he sp

ar," he said simply. "I recog

window. The lights outside blurr

o herself, "I didn't th

d slightly, just eno

d

hing she heard befo