Carina
Asharpknockatmy father’s door yanks me from my haze.
My eyes snap to Nate’s—I hadn’t even noticed how close he was.
“Who is it?” I croak, my throat raw from crying.
He starts to answer, but a furious voice cuts through the air, freezing him in place.
“Dominic Beckett, you get out here right now!”
That voice—
“If you’ve harmed one hair on her head—”
My legs move before I can think. I reach for the door, but Kai’s arm snakes around my waist, yanking me back.
“What are you doing?” he hisses against my ear.
I twist in his grasp, panic clawing up my throat. The walls press in, suffocating me.
Nate rounds the corner, his gaze darkening at the way Kai is holding me.
“Mate, I love you. But get your hands off my traumatised girlfriend before I cut them off.”
Kai releases me like I burned him, palms up. “Shit. Sorry, Carina.”
I drop to the floor, gasping, trying to convince my body that I’m safe.
“It’s okay,” I rasp.
Nate crouches in front of me, eyes searching mine. “Who’s at the door, baby?”
I blink at him. “Doctor Morgan. My therapist.”
Another knock—louder this time.
“I’m not leaving until I see her with my own eyes!”
I push myself up.
“I have to talk to her.”
Nate nods but frowns. “Not like that, Princess. You’re covered in blood.”
I glance down. He’s right.
Enzo, who’s been watching from the sidelines, shrugs off his top and hands it to me.
Nate growls in disapproval.
I shake my head. “You’re just as messy.”
Nate pouts but doesn’t argue.
After swapping my ruined clothes for the shirt and washing the worst of the blood from my face, I step into the hall.
“I’ll talk to her outside.”