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Regret swirled and stormed through my being.

I’d been such a fool.

Another horrible mistake made in my loneliness. When I’d just wanted to feel desired after I had been constantly treated like a little girl for my entire life.

Getting conned into thinking the man I’d met in an online chat room was actually into me and wasn’t my family’s greatest enemy.

Kent’s brother likely thought me the catalyst. The one who’d sent Silas and his crew in to destroy because of what they had done to me.

“So, I’m the target again?” I didn’t even know if it was a question.

Trevan let the pad of his thumb run the angle of my jaw again, but this time, his palm just barely brushed my cheek.

It sent sparks lighting in the middle of me.

I shouldn’t have leaned into his touch, but I did it anyway.

Hungry for him and everything he was, even though I kept trying to convince myself that I didn’t want him.

I was supposed to be moving on, remember?

Easier to say when he wasn’t standing this close.

“I don’t know, Elena, and it doesn’t matter if that was a warning meant for me or you or the entire MC, that bastard isn’t getting close to anyone. He came sniffing around the wrong place. But we need to be careful until we figure out exactly what is going on here.”

What that meant barreled through my mind. “I don’t want to go back, Trevan. I don’t want to let these assholes dictate my life. I want to live. I finally have the chance and⁠—”

“I won’t let one more minute of your life be stolen from you.” His snarled words cut me off, and I inhaled a ragged breath at the ferocity that was carved into his powerful, foreboding features.

I couldn’t stop the frown. “I thought you’d try to make me go back to the compound.”

I knew I’d be there tomorrow night since they had a mission. I was okay with that. Understood the necessity.

But I assumed this would be different.

His head barely shook. “This is your time. Fuck whatever that hourglass is supposed to mean. To me, it’s going to represent you stepping into that time and me being the one who stands in front of any threat or obstacle that might get in your way.”

Emotion clogged my throat.

“Trevan.” I could barely force out the single word. I guess it said enough, anyway, since it was drenched in everything I felt for him.

Admiration.

Awe.

Love.

I wondered if there was a chance he knew how deep it really went.

The magnitude.

If I might as well have it stamped all over me the way that Brinley had suggested because it was that obvious.

Because he hovered right there.

So close.

His breaths panted and mingled with mine.