wn my spine. Cold. Familiar. Dangerous. My

. "Emma... stay behind me. Whatever

n, but I was frozen in place. David moved slowly, his hand brus

nd the hood fell back, revealing a fac

d muttered un

toward him. "Luc

ast I thought I'd left behind. Dangerous, smart.

he's the one sending th

ding the messages... but he's definitely involved. And

h twist. "And wh

't know. But he knows about us... abou

rying with it a faint, familiar scent that made my pulse pou

d casually, as if time hadn't passed. "A

c surging. "What does that m

you. He's dangerous. He doesn't play by rules.

rything I thought was safe-was gone. And yet, even in the face of danger, my hea

him casting long, threatening shadows across the hallway. "O

chance. You're not touching he

y spine. "Oh, David... always so protective. Always so

at did he mean by that? And why did my gut

g. "Emma... whatever happens, stay close t

ered-could I really trust him? Could I trust anyone... not even David-when

him turning him into a dark, menacing silhouette. My stomach kn

protective and unyielding. "Em

dent smile. "So predictable, David. Always

re-felt that familiar surge of adrenaline whenever David was near. His presence was grounding, his strengt

brushing my arm. "I'm not letting

in the narrow hallway, deliberate, slow, and taunting. He stopped just outsi

ened. "Not happen

ound icy. "Leave? Oh no...

I jumped, my heart racing. David grabbed me and pulle

?" I whispered, fear d

ide, low and threatening. "Consid

... listen to me. You're not alone. But w

ve? But... where

e. "Someplace safe. Somewhere he can't find you. Trust m

trusted him-or at least, I wanted to. But a nagging thought whi

ushed against a framed photo on the dresser-a picture of us years ago, smiling, happy, unaware of

snapping me out of my thoug

ry step was heavy with tension. Every

ling and deliberate: "You can run, David... but the past

nning cold. David st

ustration mixing in my chest. "

orry. "It means... this is far from over. And we're a

was Lucas's shadow in the hallway, stretched long and mena