Mikhail’s breath came fast, uneven. His body was locked up, caught between forces he couldn’t control. His hands still shook, lingering ghosts of where they had almost crushed Makayla’s throat. His heart slammed against his ribs, a sickening, unfamiliar rhythm, like his body didn’t even know what to do anymore.
He had almost—
No.
His mind recoiled from the thought.
His gaze darted to Makayla.
She was watching him.
Not in fear.
Not in anger.
But something else. Something worse.
Something that made his insides feel like they were being torn apart, like his body knew the weight of the mistake before his mind could even process it.
Because Makayla looked at him like he was still in there.
Like she still believed.
And that—
That was terrifying.
Gino took a step forward.
“Mikhail.
