“I don’t know!” Hayden answered briskly.


    Iughed. “You don’t know, but you showed up at my door anyway?”


    He finished chopping and tossed the veggies onto a te. “The olddy downstairs told me. She


    was like, ‘Your girlfriend’s back.“”


    I froze for a second, caught off guard.


    Sipping my tea, I watched Hayden work with quiet admiration.


    Suddenly, he turned and caught me staring. “What? Why are you giving me that look?”


    I smiled lightly. “Just wondering if you’re stalking me.”


    His eyebrows shot up. “What?”


    “I’m kidding, chill. I know you’ve got better things to do,” I teased, wandering back into the living


    room.


    After a few more sips of tea, I set my cup down and started scrolling through my phone. Before I


    knew it, my eyes started getting heavy. I fell asleep fast.


    Then the nightmare hit. Darby grabbed me, and Thorsten Drago was there, telling him to kill me. A


    knife shed, and I thrashed, trying to escape…


    “Kiki! Kiki, wake up…”


    I jerked awake, my heart pounding, breath shaky. Hayden was leaning over me, his hand on my


    shoulder. “Bad dream?” His voice was low.


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    I couldn’t shake the terror, and before I knew it, I grabbed his hand tight. “It was Darby. The guy


    who cornered you with his gang. He’s working with Thorsten Drago. I saw him.”


    Hayden’s frown deepened. “How do you know that?”


    “I… I saw him,” I whispered, still gripping his hand before slowly letting go.


    “This is my fight, not yours. Stay out of it. Got it?” His voice was serious, a bit too sharp.


    I wanted to tell him I wasn’t trying to get in the way, that I just wanted answers about my dad.


    Running into Darby had been a total ident, but I didn’t get the chance.


    “Thorsten Drago is dangerous. You can’t mess around with this. Promise me you won’t do anything


    stupid. Understand?” The edge in his voice made it clear he wasn’t joking,


    I nodded, but the words I wanted to say stayed stuck in my throat.


    Hayden wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of his hand. “Go drink some water. Lunch


    is almost ready.”


    He started to leave, but I grabbed his hand. “Hayden… just, be careful.”


    I knew exactly how dangerous Thorsten Drago was. He was one of RiverwaveCorp’s biggest


    clients, but the rumors were dark–shady deals, people disappearing, and the lengths he’d go to


    protect his empire.


    ?


    Hayden’s expression softened as he looked at me. “I will.”


    The warmth of his touch made the fear fade a little. I felt safe, just for a second.


    Hayden went back to the kitchen, and soon he was bringing out tes of food–risotto, spinach, and


    chicken breast, all perfectly cooked.


    I stood up to grab my water, but as soon as I did, the room tilted. A wave of dizziness washed over


    me. I felt drained, like every bit of energy had been sucked out of me.


    Yesterday’s sickness, the stress of chasing down leads, and that awful nightmare had taken their


    toll. Hayden noticed immediately. “You okay?”


    I tried to brush it off, but he was already there, steadying me. He guided me to the bathroom door.


    “I’ll wait right here,” he said, opening the door. “Shout if you need me.”


    He probably thought I needed a minute alone, but I didn’t. I just stood in front of the sink, staring at


    my reflection.


    I looked awful–pale, exhausted, my hair a mess. Not at all like the confident, put–together version of


    me I tried so hard to be.


    ‘What a wreck,‘ I thought. He definitely saw me like this… he probably thought I was pathetic.


    Without thinking, I started smoothing my hair and pressing my cheeks, trying to look a little less


    worn out.