Chapter 7

• Aurora’s hands clenched into tight fists as she stepped out of the car.
• She could feel it.
• The danger.
• It clung to the air, thick and suffocating, wrapping around her like a warning.
• Liam stood a few feet ahead, his shoulders relaxed, his body calm, but there was something deadly in the way he held himself.
• The men standing in front of him weren’t just waiting.
• They were watching.
• Calculating.
• A man with a jagged scar running down his cheek took a step forward, cracking his knuckles with slow, deliberate ease.
• “Blackwood,” he greeted, his voice low and amused. “Been a while.”
• Liam didn’t react.
• “Not long enough,” he said flatly.
• Aurora’s stomach tightened.
• This wasn’t a friendly reunion.
• She wasn’t stupid.
• She could see the way the other men shifted, their stance predatory, tense.
• Liam was outnumbered.
• Aurora inhaled slowly, trying to steady her pulse.
• She shouldn’t be here.
• She should have listened when Liam told her to stay in the car.
• But it was too late now.
• Scarface smirked, his gaze flickering toward her.
• “And who’s this?” he mused. “Didn’t know you were babysitting these days, Blackwood.”
• Aurora’s skin burned.
• Liam exhaled sharply. “She’s not part of this.”
• Scarface chuckled.
• “That so?” He took another slow step forward, his eyes never leaving Aurora. “Because she looks part of it now.”
• Aurora held her ground.
• She wasn’t afraid of men like this.
• She had grown up surrounded by monsters in expensive suits.
• This was different, but the violence underneath it?
• That was the same.
• Liam shifted slightly, positioning himself in front of her.
• The action was small, barely noticeable.
• But Aurora caught it.
• So did Scarface.
• His smirk widened.
• “That’s cute,” he said, tilting his head. “Didn’t think you were the type to protect someone, Blackwood.”
• Liam’s jaw ticked.
• “Last chance,” he said coolly. “You walk away now, or this gets messy.”
• Scarface grinned, pulling a switchblade from his pocket.
• “Oh,” he murmured, “I was hoping you’d say that.”
• The world exploded.
• One of the men lunged toward Liam, but Liam was faster.
• He ducked, grabbed the guy by the collar, and slammed his knee into his stomach.
• Aurora barely had time to react before another man rushed toward her.
• Instinct kicked in.
• She moved fast, dodging his grasp, her pulse hammering.
• She wasn’t a fighter.
• But she was smart.
• She grabbed the nearest object—an empty glass bottle sitting on the sidewalk—and swung.
• It shattered against the man’s shoulder, sending him stumbling back with a curse.
• Liam turned at the sound, his eyes darkening when he saw her.
• “Aurora,” he snapped. “I told you to stay in the—”
• He cut off as another man threw a punch.
• Liam dodged, grabbing the guy’s wrist and twisting it so hard a sickening crack echoed through the air.
• Aurora barely had time to process it before Scarface moved.
• He was fast.
• Too fast.
• Aurora saw the glint of the blade before Liam did.
• Panic shot through her veins.
• She didn’t think.
• She just moved.
• Before she could stop herself, she shoved Liam to the side.
• Pain.
• A sharp, burning pain shot up her arm.
• For a moment, everything blurred.
• Then she looked down.
• Blood.
• Her own.
• Scarface’s blade had grazed her forearm, slicing through her jacket and skin.
• Liam turned, his eyes widening when he saw the red staining her sleeve.
• Something in him snapped.
• He moved so fast that Aurora barely saw it.
• One second, Scarface was smirking.
• The next, Liam had him pinned against the wall, his forearm pressing into his throat.
• Scarface choked, struggling, but Liam didn’t budge.
• “You shouldn’t have done that,” Liam murmured, his voice dangerously soft.
• Scarface’s face reddened.
• Liam’s grip tightened.
• “Liam,” Aurora gasped. “Don’t—”
• Liam didn’t move.
• For a terrifying second, she thought he was going to kill him.
• Then, just as suddenly as it started, he let go.
• Scarface crumpled to the ground, coughing.
• Liam turned to Aurora, his expression unreadable.
• “You’re bleeding.”
• Aurora exhaled sharply, still processing what had just happened.
• “It’s nothing,” she muttered.
• Liam stepped closer.
• Aurora held her ground.
• But her pulse spiked.
• Because he was too close.
• She could feel the heat radiating off his skin, could see the way his jaw was tight with restraint.
• “You shouldn’t have gotten involved,” he said, voice low.
• Aurora scoffed. “Neither should you.”
• Liam exhaled sharply.
• Then, before she could react, he grabbed her wrist, lifting her arm to examine the cut.
• Aurora tensed.
• His touch was warm.
• Too warm.
• For a second, she forgot how to breathe.
• Liam’s fingers traced the edge of the wound, his brows furrowed.
• Aurora hated that her stomach twisted at the contact.
• “It’s not deep,” he muttered. “But it’s going to scar if you don’t clean it properly.”
• Aurora forced a smirk. “Worried about me, Blackwood?”
• Liam’s eyes met hers.
• Something flickered.
• “Don’t flatter yourself,” he murmured.
• Aurora felt that.
• Deep.
• Liam let go of her wrist, stepping back.
• Scarface groaned from the ground, glaring at them both. “This isn’t over.”
• Liam didn’t even look at him.
• “Yeah,” he muttered, grabbing Aurora’s hand again. “It is.”
• Before she could argue, he was already pulling her toward the car.
• Aurora’s heart pounded.
• Because she wasn’t sure if it was from the fight.
• Or from the way Liam’s hand felt wrapped around hers.