e apartment I once shared with Mark. It was mostly bulky furniture and my second developme

vy stuff tomorrow around 10

was almost

bout payment. I

rds, but his actions spoke volumes. He efficiently disconnected my workstation and carefully wrapped

n. Mark stood there, dressed in a designer shirt and smelling of expensive af

es landing on Liam, who was holdi

mask of rage. "What the hel

my voice steady. "He' s h

g into the apartment. "You mean the t

ght. He didn' t say a word, but his quiet, solid presence was a shield. Mark, who

et out," Mark snapped, his voice a low growl. He was tryi

voice calm but unyielding. It was the first time h

ugged on Mark' s arm. "Mark, honey, le

er at me. "So this is what you do? The moment I' m gone, you find some h

kicked me out, Mark. You' re the

way. Mark threw insults at me, calling me a failed artist, a leech.

Mark' s tirade. "That' s enough," he said, his voi

touch Liam. He just glared, his face red with

you crawled into. You' ll n

ittany turned

he adrenaline draining away

is face full of conc

, unable

studio, as Liam was setting up my second monitor, he noticed the lock

o," he said, h

self, his movements efficient and precise. It was a simple, practical gift, but it meant more

ching the cool, solid metal of t

es to feel safe,"

, I felt a desperate nee

aid quietly. "In the beginning, he

tic eyes. "People show you who they really are

solid click of the lock sliding into place wa

rld of my game spread out before me. Mark's words echo

designed, the story I was building. He was wrong. I was a

ng across the keyboard. I had a ga