Chapter 89. Is That a Threat?

Layla’s POV

The darkness in front of me faded.

There was no blindfold.

Light flooded my eyes too fast, too bright, and then everything was fuzzy. Shapes. Movement; but then him.

Ezra.

He was kneeling right in front of me, eyes locked on mine like I was the only thing that mattered.

Before I could say a word, he reached out and pulled me into his arms.

Tight. Careful. Like I might break.

“Are you hurt?” he whispered.

His voice was low, urgent, laced with fear he was trying hard to hide.

But I wasn’t thinking about myself.

I didn’t answer his question.

My eyes traveled over him—and then I saw it.

Blood.

So much blood.

His shirt was soaked all the way through. Dark red spread down the right sleeve of his shirt and clung to his skin.

I gasped.

“Ezra…”

He flinched just a little when I laid my fingers on his arm and drew back, wet.

“You’ve been shot,” I said. The words