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“I should havekilledhim,” Johnny seethed, glaring out the windscreen and gripping the steering wheel with bloodied knuckles. “It’s not enough.”

“Are you okay, Shan?” Claire asked, leaning forward to wrap her arms around me.

Sniffling, I reached up and clutched her forearm. “Can we just go, please?”

Nodding stiffly, Johnny put the car in gear and tore out of the car park, wheels screeching from the unnecessary speed.

“Should we call the Gards?” Claire asked. “He’s not supposed to go near you.”

“He didn’t go near her,” Gibsie replied calmly. “Johnny went near him.”

“Okay,” Claire mumbled. “No Gards.”

“What if he calls them on you?” I choked out, panicking. Turning to look at Johnny, I whispered, “What about the Academy?”

“He won’t do anything, little Shannon,” Gibsie interjected. “He couldn’t if he wanted to—and even if he tried, Mr. K would have it sorted in an hour, so don’t even worry about it.”

“Exactly, and Johnny’s still a minor,” Claire offered. “He was provoked by emotions. No one would blame him.”

“I’m right here,” Johnny bit out. “Stop talking over me.”

“Sorry, lad,” Gibsie replied. “We’re just trying to figure this out.”

Exhaling heavily, Johnny ran a hand through his hair and glanced sideways at me. “Are you mad at me?”

My breath hitched. “For w-what?”

“For making it worse for you,” he admitted gruffly. “I just…” Shaking his head, he blew out another frustrated breath. “He was right fucking there, and I saw red. Icouldn’twalk away. I knew I should, but I just…couldn’t.” He gripped the wheel tighter. “Not after what he did toyou.”

“No one’s blaming you, Johnny,” Claire chimed in. “You did the right thing.”

“He deserved everything he got and more, lad,” Gibsie added.

“I’m sorry, Shannon,” Johnny said in a low tone, ignoring the others. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby.”

My hand shot out of its own accord, gripping his forearm he was resting on the gear stick. “I love you so much,” I breathed, feeling so much in this moment that I feared my heart might burst. “Don’t say sorry.”

His shoulders visibly sagged as he turned his hand over and entwined our fingers. “Will you come home with me tonight?” He glanced at me, blue eyes blazing with heat. “Will you stay with me? So I know you’re safe?”

“Yeah.” I blew out a shaky breath and nodded, knowing there was nowhere else I wanted to be than with him. “I’ll stay with you.”

* * *

My gaze was riveted to the mobile phone flashing silently on the nightstand next to the bed. I didn’t dare reach over and answer it. In fact, I mentally envisioned myself climbing out of bed and throwing it out of the window instead. When I sent that text to Joey earlier, letting him know that I was staying at Johnny’s, I should have turned my phone off. I knew it was Darren trying to call me or, worse, Mam. I couldn’t deal with them right now.

Remaining motionless, I immersed myself in the sensation of my heart thrashing against my rib cage and the sound of my pulse thrumming wildly, while I desperately tried to remind myself that I was okay.

For now…

Only for now, Shannon.

He saw you, and you saw that look in his eyes.

Be afraid.

He’s coming back for you.

Stop it!

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