“Don’t call anyone,” he gasped. “No hospitals,No police.”
I dropped to my knees, the world shrinking down to the wound spilling red against my fingers.
Blood.
Warm,sticky,alive.
It pulsed between my hands as if I wasn’t pressing hard enough to stop it, as if no matter how much I tried, it would keep finding ways to escape.
“Oh my God. Oh my God, what happened?” My voice broke, too shrill, too human.
“Ambush,” Valen breathed, each syllable strained. “Wasn’t supposed to be there.”
“Who?! Who did this to you?”
But he didn’t answer. His jaw clenched, sweat sheening across his skin, making his dark hair stick to his forehead. His body trembled, shudders running through him as though his own strength was betraying him.
This wasn’t the Don.
This wasn’t the man who moved like danger itse
