ayed closed

powder clinging to her skin. Her heartbeat hadn't returned to normal. She kept st

could think

himself over her

solid, shielding

d her to stay. The way he looked at

lips, still tingling from how close they had c

protector, she

ne that had grown louder with ev

red somet

ever chosen you without ask

t open just a

white shirt soaked through with it. His eyes were wild,

cia

?" he demanded, eye

I'm fine

him, but he

t tou

ded. Defensive. Fragile in

d something in him cracked at th

had

an you get to bl

away, jaw

me

ir beside the fire. She grabbed the first aid kit from the cabinet ben

r shirt," she

Then, wordless

asn't Luciano Moretti,

man wit

w, but unmistakable. Evidence of a life earned in viol

ught. "Who di

dn't

h eyes that had forgotten w

efully, hands shaking. He hissed, but didn'

it?" she aske

wh

ing like it's

her when he replie

n sat beside him on the floor, her hea

d to kill

es

ou sav

e felt the tension in him

been," she whispered, "if we weren't

e stretche

is voice was so low she

ry d

She blinked fast, kee

made of stone," she s

o her hair-just a

't see me, Isadora. If you do..

p at him, he

either co

O

ghts c

ess swallow

n. Red backup lights flickered to life

a second, grabbing the gu

ed the estate,"

ch droppe

e," he added, voice clipped.

e hearth behind them.

h's approach, Luciano turned to her an

ns to me... run. A