Butterflies erupted in my chest, skewing my thoughts. “He wouldn’t hurt me.”

But Gavin didn’t say anything else. His breath stalled as if he might have wanted to say something but couldn’t muster it. Instead, he leaned in and embraced my lips, holding onto me, protecting me from some unseen force vying to take me away in the stillness of the room.

Chapter 20: Gavin

Joseph’s death was more than a threat. It had to be more than a threat because otherwise, the threat was that ...