onfused and infur

Sami... responds to you. Whether you like it or

o let him dictate my choices.

sive. "She can stay. Yo

care that much, do you? As long as S

wing beneath his controlled ex

est. "And what about what's n

crack in his mask. But his voice

e had school to attend. But Sami... he need

of his gaze pressing int

chin. "I'm saying...

ime, I saw something there. A flicker

quickly, i

," he whispered, his

to walk away before he could see the

w if I truly

t frigh

...

didn't sleep, I

ed, tucking the blankets under her chin.

words in my head

to move in

ry, not really. But then I had the option

meant that I would no longer pay rent and that was extra money

too silent.

ed into me, her small body curling into my own like she belonged there. I smoothed m

, managing what I had and offering me comfort as she grew. She had always been my sou

nging her here. Was I about to do it a

for her? Would

was too much. Her friends, her routine

es spiral further, a sound

uffle. A s

p as I listened, my heart p

heard a quiet,

ure not to wake Lee. The hotel room was dim, shadows stretc

find a housekeeper or, perhaps, Adam stand

sn't eith

as S

his dark eyes searching min

aught off guard. "What

ans

canning the room as if search

hit me like a jo

e Lee?" I a

the movement sub

directly, and excitement burbled in my chest. But I couldn't let

ed carefully, his footsteps nearly soundless on the plush

ing at Lee as she slept, her ti

ched at his sides. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel

't pus

ft hum of the air conditioner and th

to me. His brow furrowed slightly, his lips pressing to

my voice gentle. "It's okay, Sami. You don

twitched a

t the fain

the contact so delicate it could

AKTHR

ed a small, reassuring smile. "Would

od. He didn

tanding. More vocal in

t, something sett

t I couldn't go.