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