*Shelby*

The angry throb of my ankle pulsed through me like a second heartbeat, demanding attention as I carefully propped it onto the dashboard, wincing at the slightest movement. The skin was stretched tight, shiny, and grotesquely swollen to twice its normal size. Each bump in the road sent a fresh wave of pain shooting up my leg, but I gritted my teeth against the sensation, refusing to let out even a whimper.

Michael's hands were steady on the wheel, his jaw set in that ...