𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐒

𝐒𝐈𝐗

𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒

A burner phone. Out of all things, a burner phone.

I stared at the device in my hand and listened to Killian's retreating steps just outside my apartment. I could survive with it, I was sure. Killian would monitor it.

For some reason, the idea of Killian providing me with security actually made me feel... protected. Even if it was just with a burner phone.

But just like that, my big girl panties dropped. Something crashed down onto the floor and shattered. I had absolutely no clue as to what it was and that instantly horrified me. All I know is it came from either my bedroom or my bathroom.

My chest tightened as I stood there against the front door, terrified. My ears drummed with my blood pumping fast through my veins. My vision blurred and I felt like I could no longer see the burner phone in my hand. Everything was blurry and my lashes felt wet. My breath was quickening as I stared at the two doors down the hall.

They're in there. Waiting for me.

My throat was a knot. I couldn't speak or even form a word. All I know is a strangled whimper left my throat as I attempted to breathe and keep myself together.

My hand trembled around the burner phone. My knuckles turned white as I held it. I tried unlocking it yet the shaking of my fingers and my blurred vision wouldn't allow me to.

The knob to the door behind me rattled and I was startled by a voice that called out to me.

"Amara?" I couldn't recognize the voice through the drumming in my ears and the sound of my ragged breathing.

"Amara, open the door. It's me," the voice said again.

Killian.

My hand turned to the knob and I unlocked the door, barely standing back when Killian opened it and found me. He found me and pulled me to his chest.

Despite how I'd naturally push him away, his own smell and the feeling of his strong arms wrapped around me brought me comfort. I knew he wouldn't hurt me, even if he made me want to rip out his spine every now and then.

At least I believed so. He wouldn't hurt me. At least not in the way I imagined whoever was after me would.

Killian grabbed my shaking hands and brought them up around his waist, his arms squeezing me tight. I felt his fingers raking through my hair, his neck serving as a headrest for me.

"Shh, breathe," he whispered to me, his large and firm hand rubbing up and down my back. "You're safe."

I was only shedding one or two tears, yet it felt like my cheeks were drenched in them. My hands fisted his shirt for I don't know how long.

"Look at me." He grabbed my cheeks and tilted my face up so I could meet his gaze. His thumbs swiped over the tears staining my cheeks. His eyes, however, held that same untold emotion I'd seen in them when we were at the park as they searched my tear-filled ones.

He took a long moment to check my arms and face, even my waist, as if he were checking for any injuries. "You're okay," he breathed out with something sounding near relief.

I shook my head, looking back at the hall. "Someone's in here," I croaked out quietly, grasping his wrists as he cupped the sides of my neck. Any ounce of emotion I'd seen in his gray eyes drained away into nothingness and into a glare that could've been made with pure ice.

That look terrified me. It was nowhere near the glares he'd sent at me before.

"Stay here." Killian grabbed my hand and secured the phone around it.