-Roxy Delgado:
When she asked it, her voice was so small I almost didn't catch it over the soft crackling of the fire.
"You sure we're safe here?"
It hit me harder than I thought it would. The way she said it—like she was barely holding herself together. Her eyes were wide, still shadowed by what we'd seen back at the mall. I didn't even think about it; my hand just moved on its own, reaching for hers. Her fingers were cold, trembling slightly against mine.
"Yes," I said, my voice lower, steadier than I felt inside. "I promise you. Nothing—nobody—can hurt you while we're here. Don't even think about that. I'm not gonna let them, okay?"
Her eyes lifted to mine again.
God, that look.
It was so intense it almost made me forget how to breathe. She stared at me like she was searching for something buried beneath my skin, like she needed proof that I meant every word. I wanted to tell her again, just to make her believe it, but the words got lost somewhere in my throat.
