CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Run With Me12Please respect copyright.PENANAb68BCVvzoj
(Matteo’s POV)
His hands were shaking.
Not from the blood.12Please respect copyright.PENANAsTOUKDixng
Not from the pain.12Please respect copyright.PENANAFbwQc3JqhF
But from the fear that she’d look at him differently now.
He was no longer the man in her fantasies.12Please respect copyright.PENANArlpJwUO9ft
He was the man who broke bones for her.12Please respect copyright.PENANAhHQrM0o1Sx
The man who nearly pulled the trigger.12Please respect copyright.PENANAdbBv7BrIfu
The man who chose violence just to keep her breathing.
She sat on the counter.12Please respect copyright.PENANAuAxClwAlWZ
Wrapped in his hoodie.12Please respect copyright.PENANAHHQ7x7UK2S
Silent.
Watching him clean his knuckles with trembling fingers.
Neither of them had spoken since the cops left.
No one got arrested.12Please respect copyright.PENANAYx8mbK5hPc
No questions were asked.12Please respect copyright.PENANAcmZpBkd35f
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.12Please respect copyright.PENANAJtHu41HeMs
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.12Please respect copyright.PENANATqmdZyLZ3C
Stood in front of him.12Please respect copyright.PENANAEezTiBplKU
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.12Please respect copyright.PENANAb1ILfqSpuj
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.12Please respect copyright.PENANALKdmjarMHA
He looked away.
But she cupped his cheek.
“Don’t ask me to choose you,” she said softly.12Please respect copyright.PENANAasg0ssb1Ax
“Choose me too.”
He nodded.
Once.
Then kissed her.12Please respect copyright.PENANAmiRAJWDykY
Not because of lust.12Please respect copyright.PENANAsFZ5Lwj4DE
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.12Please respect copyright.PENANAQagaPPUj0l
Then kissed him again.