Page 195 of The Silver Fox Brother

Then he walks to the elevator and jabs the call button. The doors open immediately. He steps inside without looking back. The doors close behind him. He's gone.

I stand there in the middle of my destroyed living room, breathing hard, my jaw throbbing, blood dripping from my split lip onto my shirt.

Winter runs toward me from the hallway. Her hands reach for my face immediately, touching my jaw gently, checking the damage. Her fingers are trembling as they move to my split lip, her touch featherlight.

"Knox," she whispers, tears still streaming down her face.

"Oh god, your lip—"

"I'm fine."

She shakes her head, her thumb carefully wiping blood from the corner of my mouth.

"You're bleeding."

I catch her hand in mine and bring it to my chest.

"I'm fine. I promise."

Winter's other hand cups my face, her eyes searching mine with concern and fear and relief all mixed together.

"That was awful," she says, her voice breaking.

Then she collapses against my chest and sobs. I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight.

"It's over," I say quietly into her hair.

"He's gone. It's over."

After a few moments, I pull back slightly and look at Winter.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

She nods, wiping at her eyes. "I'm fine."

She gets up from where we're standing and walks to the kitchen. I watch as she opens the freezer and pulls out ice cubes, wrapping them in a hand towel.

She comes back over to me and gestures toward the couch.

"Sit."

I sit down and Winter settles beside me, close enough that our legs are touching.

She brings the ice-wrapped towel up to my jaw carefully. The cold stings but I don't pull away.

"Does it hurt?" she asks quietly.

"I've had worse."

Winter's eyes meet mine and there's something in her expression that makes my chest tighten. Concern. Love. Fear.

"Your family is going to hate me," she says softly.

I shake my head. "Well, they already hate me. But I don't care."

"Knox—"

"I mean it," I interrupt.