CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Run With Me15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMntkUlNCi
(Matteo’s POV)
His hands were shaking.
Not from the blood.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMps7MDpH1
Not from the pain.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSwazJjERd
But from the fear that she’d look at him differently now.
He was no longer the man in her fantasies.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvpKFpfkbt
He was the man who broke bones for her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVxr776gAY
The man who nearly pulled the trigger.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUB2OyUqz4P
The man who chose violence just to keep her breathing.
She sat on the counter.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrch3JmtYOQ
Wrapped in his hoodie.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIl6TdGY9i
Silent.
Watching him clean his knuckles with trembling fingers.
Neither of them had spoken since the cops left.
No one got arrested.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRAbHvQyTH
No questions were asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxUSmAphyh
Matteo had connections.
But he also had scars.
Too many.
“You’re not safe here,” he finally said.
Her lips parted, but she didn’t argue.
Because she knew.
He turned toward her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhsWz6gkV2
Eyes dark, vulnerable.
“If you stay, they’ll find you again.”
“If I go, they’ll find you instead.”
“I don’t care,” he snapped. “I’ll burn the world for you.”
She slid off the counter.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSKqC3t1yJ
Stood in front of him.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik5lFi5jBL
Reached for his hand.
“Then don’t burn it,” she whispered.
“Just leave it.”
Matteo’s breath hitched.
“What?”
“Let’s go,” she said. “Let’s leave everything.”
He stared at her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniJgy5Ndv0
Like she’d just said the sun would follow them wherever they went.
“You’d really do that? Leave your life? Your job? Your friends—”
“You’re my life now.”
His throat tightened.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ675RloT4VK
He looked away.
But she cupped his cheek.
“Don’t ask me to choose you,” she said softly.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLmAuzNC5h
“Choose me too.”
He nodded.
Once.
Then kissed her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROe2EZGfGa
Not because of lust.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46gUhTYmQz
Not because of desperation.
But because they’d made a decision.
And tomorrow, they wouldn’t be in this city.
They wouldn’t be hunted by ghosts or haunted by pasts.
They’d be on the road.
With nothing but clothes, cash, and each other.
“Where will we go?” she whispered.
He smiled.
“Anywhere I can make you moan loud enough for the stars to remember our names.”
She laughed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjjsQFjUrD
Then kissed him again.
