Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

K nox

The shop smells like flowers and destruction. It's a strange combination—the soft, sweet fragrance of roses and lilies mixed with the sharp, metallic scent of fear. I step inside, my boots crunching over shattered glass, the faint flicker of the streetlight casting shadows over the mess. The shop is a wreck. Petals scatter the floor like confetti from some twisted celebration. Broken vases litter the counters. The soft glow of the moon through the window does nothing to calm the storm raging inside me.

And there's Perry. Standing in the middle of it all, her back to me, shoulders tense. She's trying to fix a bouquet, her hands trembling as she arranges the flowers, but they're shaking too much. I can't see her face, but I can feel the fear radiating off her. It's like a living thing in the air, thick and suffocating. She's scared. She doesn't have to say it.

I clench my fists at my sides, fury boiling up. This is his doing—her ex. The bastard who won't leave her alone, who's been sending threats, lurking around like a shadow. He's escalated, like I knew he would. I knew it. And now, he's crossed a line.

I step closer, the floor creaking under my weight. "Perry…"

She spins around, her eyes wide, chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Relief flickers in her gaze for a second when she sees me, but it's gone almost as fast as it came, replaced by that fear. And something else—shame. Like she's embarrassed to need me here. To need anyone.

"Knox, I'm fine," she says, her voice trembling. She's trying to be strong, but I can see it. The cracks in her armor. She's not fine. Not even close.

"Don't lie to me," I growl, taking another step toward her, my hand reaching out but stopping just short of touching her. I don't want to push her, not when she's like this. "This isn't fine."

She opens her mouth to argue, but before she can say anything, the door swings open behind me with a heavy creak, and I know. I don't even have to turn around to know who it is.

Him.

The air changes, charged with tension, thick and suffocating. Perry's whole body goes rigid, her eyes flicking to the door, fear washing over her face like a wave crashing over the shore. I can feel her pulse from across the room, hear the way her breath catches in her throat.

I turn slowly, my body tense, ready for what's coming. And there he is—her ex, standing in the doorway, his face twisted into a sneer. The bastard has the nerve to smile, his dark eyes flicking between Perry and me like he's won something.

"I told you, Perry," he says, his voice low and dangerous. He steps inside, his shadow looming over her as if he owns the place. As if he owns her. "You can't run from me."

My blood boils. It takes everything in me not to charge across the room and tear him apart right there, but I force myself to stay calm. For now. My fists clench, my jaw tightens, and I step in front of Perry, putting myself between them. He's not getting near her. Not tonight. Not ever again.

"You need to leave," Perry's voice shakes, but there's steel in it too. She's trying to be brave, but I can see the way her hands tremble at her sides, the way she's gripping the counter for support. She's terrified, but she's standing her ground. That's my girl.

He takes another step closer, his lip curling. "You think Knox here can protect you?" He spits my name like it's a curse. His hand clenches into a fist at his side, his eyes narrowing in challenge. "He can't save you, Perry. You're mine."

And that's it. That's all I need.

Before I even realize what I'm doing, I'm moving. I close the distance between us in a second, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against the wall with enough force to rattle the windows. He lets out a grunt, his hands coming up to try and push me off, but he's no match. I'm stronger, faster, fueled by rage and the primal need to protect Perry. I pin him there, my face inches from his, my breath coming out in ragged bursts.

"You come near her again," I growl, my voice low, dangerous. "And I swear I'll make you regret it."

He sneers at me, trying to act tough, but I see the fear in his eyes. He knows I'm not bluffing. He knows I could break him in half if I wanted to. And I want to. God, do I want to. My hands itch to finish this right here, to end the threat once and for all. But I can't. Not like this.

"Understand?" I slam him against the wall again for good measure, just to drive the point home.

He mutters something under his breath, but he's already lost. I let him go, shoving him back toward the door, and he stumbles out, glaring at me over his shoulder. But he's not coming back. He won't risk it.

As soon as he's gone, the tension in the shop lingers like a thick fog. I turn back to Perry, my chest heaving, my fists still clenched at my sides. The adrenaline is wearing off, replaced by something heavier. Something raw. I look at her, and for the first time, I'm not sure what to say. I've been protecting her from him, but who's protecting her from me? From the walls I've built around myself, from the distance I've tried to keep between us?

"Knox…" Perry steps toward me, her voice soft, filled with concern. She reaches out, her hand brushing my arm, but I pull back. Not because I don't want her touch—I crave it—but because I'm terrified. Terrified of what comes next. Of what I've been trying so hard to avoid.

"I can't lose you, Perry," I say, my voice rough, filled with all the emotion I've been holding back for so long. "I… I love you. And it scares the hell out of me."

The words come out harsher than I intended, like a confession I didn't want to make. But now that they're out, there's no taking them back. I look at her, my heart pounding, my body tense, waiting for her to respond.

She steps closer, her eyes soft, understanding. "You're not going to lose me," she whispers, her voice steady. "I'm here, Knox. I'm not going anywhere."

She reaches up, cupping my face in her hands, forcing me to look at her. Her touch is gentle, soothing the storm inside me, and for the first time, I believe her. I believe that maybe, just maybe, I don't have to do this alone.

"I love you too," she says, her voice filled with emotion, and it's like the weight on my chest lifts, just a little. She presses her forehead to mine, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. I close my eyes, letting her words wash over me. She loves me. She's not leaving.

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close, holding her tight. For the first time in a long time, I let the walls come down. I let her in, fully. And it feels like coming home.

As we stand there, wrapped in each other's arms, the chaos of the night fades away. The future is still uncertain, but I know one thing for sure—I'm ready to face whatever comes next. As long as I have her by my side.