Cedric
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Before the words could fully settle in the air, I moved. One hand shot up and covered her mouth; the other gripped her upper arm as I dragged her further into the shadows, away from the porch light and away from where Lia still stood waiting.
“Shut up,” I hissed against her ear, my voice low and sharp. “Do you want to get us both killed?”
She made a small muffled sound under my palm, then pushed my hand down just enough to speak.
“Killed by who?” she scoffed.
I stared at her. Silence stretched between us for a few heavy seconds. The only sound was a distant car somewhere down the street.
I exhaled hard. “Just go. Please.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
She lifted her chin, that familiar stubborn spark flashing in her eyes even in the dark. "Because I, P
