Chapter NINETEEN-AVERY

How had this happened?

“Dante,” I managed to say his name, fear tightening my throat and choking off the rest of my words.

My hands gripped the wheel, trying to focus on driving his massive truck down the snowy road. Every second felt like an eternity, my mind spinning in a thousand directions at once.

“Look at me, Honey.” His voice was steady, calm, even though I could hear the strain beneath it.

I glanced at him in the rearview mirror. His black eyes locked onto mine, unwavering, grounding me in the chaos.

“I got her. And I got you. This will all be okay.”

I nodded, tears streaming down my face, unchecked and relentless. I couldn’t stop them, didn’t even try.

My chest felt too tight, like my ribs might crack under the pressure of everything I was feeling.

Then, with trembling hands, I pulled the truck over to the side of the road. The ranch was only about eight minutes away, but I couldn’t keep going. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe.