AUTHOR'S POV [SALVATORE]She hurried up the stairs, and he couldn't tear his eyes off her moving frame.He had seen the embarrassment on her face, and it became apparent she didn't even know it was there.Adler knew how to mark what he wanted—open for all to see and understand and vehemently back off.It was never a problem. Maybe because Adler had never done this to anyone before her, for he never let anyone stick around this long, and he and Rune didn't believe him when he kept repeating about the girl that saved his life.But now... What was wrong with him? Why was he acting all concerned if Adler wanted her so much that he was indirectly telling him to back off?Lily wasn't up for Adler, he knew. There was no way Domenico's son would suddenly be a saint after years of being something that couldn't be explained. How long was Adler going to pretend?But are you only concerned about her well-being? The low voice was back again. That quiet voice shunned him whenever he tried to asser

AUTHOR'S POV [ADLER]"Okay, Don, if you don't like this, I do not know what flavor would appeal to your taste." She snatched the cone from him, taking a massive bite from the ice cream before turning to the vendor, and he could hear her smile when she ordered, "Something less sweet,"Adler watched her back and how she was on her toes for no other reason than what he suspected was excitement.What was the bet she wasn't as eager as he was? Standing so close behind her but in the FUCKING MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.This street was far from what he had in mind. Rowdy, with people strolling down the walk, the music blaring at the other side of the road hurt his ears.He had lost count of the number of cones he had bitten from, looking for the best to suit his taste.The irony was that he hated ice cream, the taste, the way it affected his bud, but she wasn't about to listen to that excuse. Naa, he wasn't about to tell her that.He loved the way she fused over him, how she reached up and wiped the

The drive to the manor was marked by silence, the car carrying her quiet demeanor, leaning against the window, fixated on the view outside.They were both in the passenger seat, and he made no move to close the distance between them. If she thought she needed it, then that was fine.Fuck! That was so close he couldn't stop thinking that if they were a couple of minutes early, that could have been their last. If she weren't also threatened, he would have laughed it off. Speak of a narrow escape. But she was pretty shaken; even now, time and again, the shivers came abruptly. It startled her when she least expected it, but then she inhaled deeply and kept herself in check again. It could have been anyone, lying in wait, ready to stick that against the car, that that person had watched his most private moment with her, had him raging.He looked at her; how bad was her shock? Did people need a doctor for this kind of thing, or did they get over it as time passed?Damn, he was terrible a

"She met godfather, and yup, you guessed it. He wasn't happy with what she was telling him." Kyra nibbled on the cucumber she held in hand, "If I'm being correct, Boss is mad at Adler, but since he hasn't been out of his mum's hole since last night, he has to keep his frustrations in till he sees Adler again."Both men stared at her, the blankness evident in their faces."Don't tell me you both still don't get it,""Maybe if you speak as correctly as you could restrict with a cuff, then we'll have a clue on what the fuck you were trying to pass acc..." She pointed the knife tip at the blabbering soldier, and Rune stopped speaking as quickly as he had started. He glared at the pointed, shiny end of the blade, then at her face.Salvatore stared at them from where he stood with his back against the wall. Although those two hated each other, somehow they found themselves sharing the same space, about to tear at each other's throats.So far, Kyra had the upper hand, all thanks to Rune

I prayed for darkness, but the lights decided to be steady; I wished for the unconscious, but for the first time, the universe resolved to consider me.The dripping sound persisted, his blood wasting on the white tiled floor.Just like I suspected, the darkness oozed out from him. It was in the intensity of his gaze, his scattered hair, looking slept on and wearing a black rumpled polo shirt. His eyes looked like they had been rubbed countless times.I tried opening my lips, but nothing escaped them; the sound was stuck with the lump in my throat.He poked his head out the door, staring down the empty hallway. A few seconds passed, and his attention was back on me, eyes on my fraying hair I didn't have time to brush down."It's cold out, and you're barely clothed." The deep, hushed voice came from above me, "You shouldn't be here, Lily." Adler let his eyes graze down my t-shirt; although braless, he didn't stick to my chest. He stretched forth bloody hands, "I got a cardigan in there,