CHERYL
My heart slammed against my ribs so loudly I could hear it—like it was trying to speak before I could.
Aiden’s voice still rang in my ears, soft but firm. “Come with me. I'll explain everything, I'll tell you everything.”
And then Damon’s—darker, lower. “Don’t move.”
I stood between them like the axis of some cruel universe, their opposing gravities tugging at my ribs. The silence that fell wasn’t peaceful. It was the kind that howled beneath your skin. The kind you find just before a car crashes or a gun fires.
My feet didn’t move. But everything inside me did.
Aiden was looking at me like I was salvation, or maybe a last chance. And Damon? Damon’s face was unreadable—except for his eyes. His eyes were sharp and cold, yet… pleading.
That was the worst part. Damon never plead
