at my skin kept me conscious even as my ears rang like I’d been sucked underwater. It reminded me of how I believed he’d gotten the scar. A heaviness pooled in my chest, snuffing out the anger within. “You hurt me...” The quiet words disappeared in a gust of wind that sent snow whipping through the air. “And I still would have helped you. I would have saved you when you were a boy, even knowing what you would do to me I was crying steadily, laying out my heart at Ronan’s feet in front of all of his men, while his expression conveyed he’d be more interested in reading the dull section of the newspaper. Though something obscure passed through his eyes before they slid to my wrist, which throbbed with my heartbeat. Then he looked at my bare feet, making me painfully aware of the snow burning my soles. The high emotions dropped, leaving me drained and unsteady. When I swayed, he put the gun back in his waistband, wrapped an arm around my waist, and lifted me. The man could shoot an old woman’s pet Fluffy without remorse, and still, I felt comfort in his arms. A shiver coasted through me, my chilled body absorbing the heat of his. “PII hate you forever if you hurt him,” I said numbly. “Your dramatics are a bit much for a Tuesday morning.” His words made me uncomfortably aware of all the eyes on us. As a little embarrassment arose, I turned my face into Ronan’s neck and murmured, “It was a great monologue.” “Oscar-worthy,” he returned with a trace of dry humor. “The nearfainting really brought it home.” When we entered the house, he spoke in Russian to Yulia on the way to the dining room, where he set me on my feet. He held out his hand. “Let me see it.” Knowing what he was asking for, I brought my wrist to my chest protectively. “It’s really not that bad.” “Then let me fucking see it.” I sighed and complied. Ronan’s eyes on the wound made it throb, and I bit my lip to hide a wince before saying, “I don’t suppose you have a BandAid around here?” Ronan’s dark gaze met mine for a second with a sense of aggravation. “You need stitches.”