The rain didn’t stop at the Manor; it drenched the city, turning the parking lot of Sterling Medical into a slick, reflective surface.
Dr. Maya Khan walked to her car, keys in hand. Dr. Kaius Reed walked beside her, holding an umbrella over her head. He was easy, open, and safe–everything Julian wasn’t.
“You look tired, Maya,” Kaius said softly. “Let me take you to dinner. Real food. No hospital cafeteria tray.”
He stopped at her car door. The air between them was warm, inviting. Kaius leaned in, his intention clear. Maya hesitated, then tilted her head up, wanting to forget the dark complexity of Julian Sterling.
Suddenly, a hand clamped onto Kaius’s shoulder and yanked him back.
Julian stood there, soaked to the bone, his hair plastered to his forehead. He looked unhinged.
“Back off,” Julian snarled, stepping between them.
“Julian!” Maya cried. “What is wrong with you?”
“I told you to stay away from her,” Julian hissed at Kaius, his chest heaving.
Kaius straightened his jacket, unbothered. “She’s not your property, Sterling. In fact, from what I hear, you don’t want to be with her. So why are you blocking the door?”
Julian looked at Maya. The rain ran down his face like tears. He wanted to tell her the truth–that he was a Valerius, that his family was at war with her best friend’s husband, that he was a liability.
“I can’t be with you,” Julian admitted, his voice breaking as he looked at Maya. “But I can’t let him have you.”
He grabbed Maya’s arm, pulling her away from Kaius. It was possessive, toxic, and overwhelmingly desperate. For a moment, Maya didn’t pull away. She stared into his dark eyes, trapped in the gravity of his secret.