Hazel's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The boy who had once saved her life was now the man who had turned it upside down. Francisco, with his dark past and dangerous present, was the same person she had wanted to thank all those years ago. Her heart felt heavy with the irony of it all.

Francisco, sensing her turmoil, rose from her bosom, his breath ragged. He moved up to her face, their eyes locking with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

“This ...