a's

ed into me instinctively my body reac

seeps into the skin, and settles behind the eyes. Her head rolled

," I sai

d. Of cour

omething important happens. I felt eyes on my back as I

we reached them, staff turning away instinctively. This place was m

ing he

tor doors

kly into the fabric of my jacket. It

?" one of the

the doctor on standby. And w

, bo

oftly as we reached t

like she'd just watched her life detonate. But i cant possibly leave her

sn't an

rooms. I watched as they laid her gently on the b

mit?" I

, s

You c

without

oor c

e rush

her chest rise and fall. Her face was softer in sleep, tens

ve gone home

he ha

d into my b

t one. Whiskey, neat. I didn't need it but h

l the time, but Aria hadn't. She'd worn her pain op

k women

row

ounded at

me

wait for per

y sharp with amusement. "So," he said, eyes flicking briefly toward the bedroom, "

er boyfriend cheati

ed. "Damn. T

er best

"Okay, that

y. "She's drunk. She's

r, studying me far too closely.

m n

ght her u

S

said. "And women like her? They

own slowly. "You

ed lightly. "

rned hi

"Relax. I'm teasing. Mostly." His gaze drif

N

r came to

be, if you noticed

"She desc

utright. "Oh, I would

was d

he added. "T

n't r

ened. "Anything

hing

. I'll have someone quietly

said s

used.

e night without

"Since when do you care a

n't a

. "Fine. But if she t

hand

aintly. "Yo

returned to the

. Her brow furrowed, hands clenching in the

tly, though I knew

axed sl

longer than

About the blood. The violence. The

d at me like I was

made her

and left the room, lock