Svetlana

I've spent my life running.

I ran the day my sister was taken, and I've been running ever since-away from the guilt, the grief, and the hollow expectations of who I should be.

But running doesn't erase the pain. It doesn't stop the memories from haunting me.

Now, I'm face to face with a man who sees the broken pieces I've been hiding. A man who makes me want to stop running.

Brandon is everything I shouldn't want-dominant, intense, and unrelenting. But I can't deny the pull between us.

I thought I was done with dreams, but he's giving me a glimpse of something I never thought I could have.

And I'm terrified it will shatter again.

Brandon

I've made mistakes. Some I can't forgive myself for.

But when I meet Svetlana, it's like she sees straight through the walls I've built around my heart.

She's beautiful, fierce, and carrying the weight of a past that threatens to crush her.

I want to protect her, to show her that her scars don't define her. But to earn her trust, I'll have to face my own demons.

She's everything I've been searching for, but her pain runs deep, and her secrets could destroy us both.

I've lost before. I won't lose her. Not without a fight.