Beneath His Shadow

visitors glanced our way. I raised my hands slightly, palms open, a

breathing ragged as she clutched the cup of w

rgotten. "I didn't mean to scare you," I said, stepp

eel beneath it was unmistakable. Her hands trembled aro

is. Not when the scent of smoke and blood still clung to me. But seeing her after everything,

earlier. I hav

have. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breaths shallow. I could see the walls she'd built a

er cautious step forward. She tensed but didn't r

back the words she wanted to say. Her fingers clutched

ain, to reassure-but footste

of

voice of her mother, who hurried tow

oulders sagging as if the weight of the

the waiting room!" Her mother's gaze flicked to me, surp

nod. "I...uh...helped Sofia earlier. She dro

er attention. Her brows drew togeth

h her tone was guarded. She stepped closer to Sofia,

loosened as her mother

e said softly, g

d to say something, but the moment passed. She turned and walked away, her m

nto silence. My pulse still thundered beneath my skin,

was

fia Rossi had slip

is wasn't the last tim

sleep t

ge of Sofia's frightened face burned int

Adrian had

. Nineteen years old. Lost her eyesight in a car accident three years ago. Her parents are well-known philanthropi

sorbed the information. The Rossi name wasn't unfamiliar, but until

l So

does sh

. Sophomore. Majoring

about her presence had that

er sch

vents. Nothing out of the ordinary. But...there's a pattern. She

Even after what h

t. Either she's stubborn or do

ught. Defin

hing

g. Her father, Alessandro, he's recently

my pulse spik

are they're looking to expand their influence. Not enough

lc

ng dark inside me. I did

y chair. "And make sure someone watches

're really going do

ing. "I don't walk away

want

***

t my distance. I told mys

fate had o

e air was crisp, tinged with the promise of autumn, and students moved thro

ould've driven past, ignored t

en I s

rushing the braille pages of a book resting on her lap. Her long, dark hai

d her face slightly toward the breeze as i

that...I could

the grass. I didn't stop until I stood just a few feet a

asked, my voice breaking

nce. Her head turned slightly, her brows dra

ispered, her voi

ump rising in my

us. Not awkward, but wei

e," she finally said, her

more at myself than anyt

hy

wanted to s

itched ever

saving, and you sure as hell don't need some stranger hovering around you. But...I haven't been able to stop thinking abo

le

her lap, her fingers brushi

held a thou

s. Carefully, I reached out and took her hand, the one not holding t

admitted. "But I

scaping as if she couldn't decid

could feel them beneath my fin

irst time...I

ded to slip

n't pul

t not rejecting. I held still, sensing that even the

like a whisper against the bre

hesitation. "More than I've w

er chest betraying the quickening of her breath. But then she stepped bac

"People always leave when they r

ted. I took a step forward, closing

said, my voice low but stea

rling into the strap of her bag as if hold

ant every word. But I knew pushing too hard would only send her retreating fu

et me p

distant chime of the campus bell cut through the ai

after a pause, stepping

u," I offered

e battle behind her eyes-trust versus fear,

have to," s

But I w

ed it if I weren't watching so closely. Without a word, I fell into step beside her,

d, and for the first time in a long time, I fel