Ruby’s POV

All I wanted was to shut the world out, and pretend the last twenty-four hours hadn’t completely flipped my life upside down.

I was still stuck in that daze, half in my thoughts, half trying to breathe, when the front door opened.

Austin stepped in, his expression tight, his eyes scanning me. Noting my bandaged leg, the bruises on my arm, and the exhaustion on my face.

He moved toward me slowly, concern etched across his face. “You’re in pain,” he said softly as he knelt in ...