Page 15

"You're in shock. You're not driving anywhere." I guide her toward the sedan. Away from Cole's unconscious body, the black SUV and the supermarket where she's been pretending to be fine for god knows how long. "We'll come back for your car tomorrow."

"Gabriel…"

"Tomorrow," I repeat firmly. "Right now, you're coming with me."

She doesn't argue.

Doesn't resist.

Just lets me lead her to the sedan and help her into the passenger seat like she's forgotten how to do it herself. I close her door gently. Walk around to the driver's side and start the engine.

Cole is still unconscious on the pavement when we pull out of the parking lot.

I should feel guilty about that.

I don't.

Chapter 4 - Paige

I can't stop shaking.

Gabriel drives with both hands on the wheel, calm and steady like he didn't just knock my boyfriend unconscious in a supermarket parking lot. Like this is normal. Like any of this is normal.

My cheek throbs. Hot and swollen. I press my fingers against it gently and wince.

"Don't touch it," Gabriel says without looking at me. "You'll make the swelling worse."

I drop my hand. Stare out the window at Millhaven passing by in blurred streetlights and dark storefronts. Try to process what just happened.

Cole hit me.

In public. In the supermarket parking lot where anyone could have seen. He's always been careful before: always behind closed doors, always with excuses ready, always just power enough to leave marks that could be explained.

But tonight he didn't care who saw.

Tonight he was so angry he forgot to hide it.

And Gabriel was there.

I turn to look at him. This man who decided without asking that I was worth protecting.

"Why were you watching?" I ask him. My voice sounds hollow. Distant.

"You seemed scared." He takes a turn onto Main Street. "When you mentioned Cole picking you up. You lit that second cigarette and you looked—" He pauses. Searches for the right word. "Terrified."

I was terrified. Am terrified. But hearing him say it out loud makes it real in a way I've been avoiding for months.

"I told you I didn't need saving," I whisper.

"I know."

"I told you to leave me alone."

"I know that too."

"But you came anyway."

"Yeah." He glances at me briefly. Blue eyes serious. Unflinching. "I did."