The moment the words left my lips, Ryan pulled me into his arms with a sudden, intense grip, crushing me against his chest. "Gabby," he said, voice firm and unwavering, "that day is never going to happen."

He was holding me so tightly that I could barely breathe. I shifted in his arms, squirming slightly, and tilted my face up to meet his gaze.

His eyes were like deep, endless whirlpools—dark, intense, and hiding countless secrets.

Before I could even ...