Kaleigh stared, her heart frozen in her chest. Cade. He stood there, a silent, imposing figure in the dim garage light, his body a solid wall between her and Julian.

His gaze wasn't on Julian. It was on her, taking in her flushed cheeks and the tremor in her hands.

Julian struggled, trying to yank his arm free, but Cade's grip was like steel. "Who the hell are you?" he seethed. "Let go of me!"

Only then did Cade slowly turn his head, his eyes cold and flat. A shiver of pure, primal fear went through Julian.

"Touch her again and you'll regret it," Cade said in a low, deadly calm voice.

Julian, though terrified, tried to bluster. "This is between me and my ex-girlfriend. It's none of your business."

A humorless smile touched Cade's lips. He tightened his grip until the sickening sound of bone grinding against bone echoed in the quiet garage. A sharp cry of pain escaped Julian as his knees buckled, forcing him to bow under the unbearable pressure.

"It is now," Cade said. Instead of just shoving him, Cade twisted Julian's arm further, slamming the man face-first into the hood of his own car.

Julian gasped for air, his cheek pressed against the cold metal. He looked up at Cade with wide, terrified eyes, his previous arrogance entirely shattered.

Cade ignored him, turning his full attention to Kaleigh. He stepped in front of her, shielding her completely. He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. It was warm from his body and smelled faintly of him, a scent that was surprisingly grounding.

She looked up at the hard line of his jaw, her mind a whirlwind of confusion. Why was he here? Why was he helping her?

He leaned down, his voice a low murmur meant only for her. "Are you okay?"

She could only nod, a lump forming in her throat. The sting of tears pricked at her eyes. His fingers brushed her wrist as he adjusted the jacket, sending an unexpected spark through her skin.

Seeing their proximity, Julian's fear mingled with a new, ugly jealousy. "Who are you to her?" he demanded, his voice cracking like a pathetic coward's.

Cade turned, positioning himself even more firmly in front of Kaleigh. He looked Julian up and down as if he were something unpleasant on the bottom of his shoe.

"I'm her friend."

He then bent down, collected the hundred-dollar bills from her car's hood, and walked over to Julian. He grabbed the cowering man by the lapels, hauling him up, and roughly shoved the crumpled money directly down the front of Julian's expensive suit.

"Keep your money," Cade said, his voice level, giving Julian's cheek a degrading, mocking pat. "As for her car, we'll be in touch. My lawyer will send the bill from the best body shop in the city directly to you and your insurance company. And if you ever come near her again, I won't just break your wrist—I'll destroy your entire pathetic life."

Julian's face went from pale to a blotchy red, sweat beading on his forehead. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He knew, with absolute certainty, that this was a man he could not afford to cross.

Cade took Kaleigh's hand. It was ice-cold. He wrapped his large, warm hand around hers. "Let's go."

He led her out of the garage, leaving Julian slumped against his car, utterly defeated.

The cool night air hit Kaleigh's face, clearing her head slightly. She pulled her hand from his grasp. "Thank you," she said, her voice shaky. "But... how did you know I was here?"

He looked at her, his expression unreadable in the darkness. "I sent you a text. You didn't answer. I was worried."

She was speechless. Worried? They were strangers, bound only by one reckless night.

As if reading her mind, he said, "I need to take responsibility for what happened two months ago."

"Responsibility?" The word sounded absurd. "That was a mistake. A one-time thing. We're adults. No one needs to be responsible."

"I do," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Get in my car. I'll take you home. We need to talk."

She was about to refuse, to insist on her independence, when a movement at the end of the street caught her eye. A man was lurking in the shadows, his posture sleazy and familiar.

Jeb Fields. Her step-brother.

The blood drained from her face. Her body went rigid with a fear far deeper than anything Julian could inspire.

Cade noticed the change instantly. He followed her gaze and saw the man swaggering toward them, a predatory grin on his face.

Jeb's yellowed teeth flashed under the streetlight.

Kaleigh's breath came in ragged gasps. She grabbed Cade's arm, her voice a panicked whisper. "We have to go. Now."