pte

an'

not simply tru

he window, the New York skyline silently, a dazzling witness to our collision behind her. Her arms were crossed, he

stopped trusting you the moment you gave me a reason no

ing me to back off. "I know I messed, Oli

's practical. Your perspective is absolu

ed, and unlike the lady I had lost years before; it made me want to burst through her boundaries

nother step. "The signals. emails. What are you not telling me? You seem t

if it were a lifeline; her lips formed a narrow

f it is ab

e chord. Her shields weakened for a single second, but she recovered

s was charged with conflict. "I cannot leav

dare." "Don't stand there and claim some no

but I wouldn't back down. "Yo

tering breath. She said, "You don't know what you're talking ab

reduce the space between us and show her that I was not the enemy. But if I knew

ill, under the wrath and under the suffering, there was another, unquestionable, silent truth. The

ferent. A darker thing. And whatev

hink I'm lying to you," abruptly. "Tha

ou're scared." "And I think you trus

with unshed tears, and her voice shook with hardly controlled wrath.

voice getting higher. But if you k

because that's the only way to protect my

illness was charged, thick, the sort that made breathing difficult. Desperate to know th

man I was, Olivia," then tentatively

l to me. "Because all I notice is

reaching for her. "I didn't break your heart, Olivia," I murmu

ed to face me then. " shie

the reality without deconstructing everything? How could I help her to see th

e I could locate the words. She looked at the screen, an

hoarse with apprehension,

hand tightening on the

uttered, my tolerance b

sponse was so quick and strong that it sto

her more the room flashed and a strong rumbling roused the structur

hell was that?" Though the skyline was absolutel

not to hide it. Her face white, her lips shaking as

ey're here." Her voi

isted, moving in closer.

she turned instead and ran for the door. My pulse beating, I foll

er down the corridor. "Who else is ar

hallow gasps and her eyes were wild. With a trembling voice, she replied, "You

time I just stared at her. My voice low and menaci

" she said i

fication. Olivia's eyes went wide, then she grabbed my arm and dragged me into the closest offi

ugh the sounds accompanying the footfall were lo

e..." This time t

target... kil

ver they were, they were

y arm, her lips brushing against my ear as

thing changed. This transcended our past or our unresolved e

barely gett

via's hold on my arm tightened to hurt. Her emerald eyes were wide with h

ust audible whisper. " Who ar

e anxiety that told me all I needed to know; this went beyo

a shadow passed under the door's fracture. with a gun. Whatever t

and steady even though every nerve in my body crie

They're after someone, something. Though I'm not sure of all the spe

l? Already arranging bits

y believe I possess something they need. But Ethan,

h. My hands tightened, a protecting flood co

brain flew, computing my chances of escaping this unharmed. There were no wind

remarked, speaking de

umbling through her voice

sed as a weapon or diversion. My gaze fixed on a fire extin

lf near the entrance, "Stay behind me." Every second s

time. They paused abruptly, though, as a deep, fright

, a flicker of terror mixed with will deep inside them. There was no time to

a terrible thud. Another man emerged behind him brandishing hi

er. She stopped for a split second, then ran, her foo

pain erupted in my shoulder and I continued. I stopped not sure how to

n time to see another man approaching her. As I barreled toward hi

a harsh voice. "G

irens filled the air before she could move. The men looked a

Fall back," and turne

released, her hands quivering as she pushed on my shoulder to s

e replied, "We're n