Noreen caught the heavy scent of alcohol on Seth as soon as he appeared–he must have juste


    from a bar.


    Instinctively, she tried to keep him out, blocking the doorway with her body, refusing to let him in.


    But Seth shoved past her before she could react, barging straight into her tiny apartment.


    The ce was barely bigger than a shoebox–one bedroom, a small living room, a kitchte, and a cramped bathroom.


    It took Seth less than a minute to search every corner.


    Noreen didn’t try to stop him; instead, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text.


    When Seth finished his sweep and found no one else hiding, he turned back toward her.


    She was still focused on her phone, unaware of how fast he was closing in.


    By the time she realized, he was already right in front of her.


    A sense of danger prickled along her skin, and she instinctively tried to move back.


    But the door was pressed against her spine–there was nowhere left to go.


    Seth closed the distance in a heartbeat, pinning her against the door.


    He was a grown man, heavy with anger and the force of alcohol; she couldn’t budge him even if she tried.


    In one swift motion, he grabbed her chin, forcing her head up, and crashed his mouth onto hers.


    The kiss was rough and punishing, the taste of liquor flooding her senses–familiar, yet so painfully foreign. Noreen’s eyes burned.


    She didn’t hesitate; her hand shot up, aiming to p him across the face.


    But he was faster, catching her wrist and yanking it above her head,


    Her upper body arched helplessly, giving him more ess, letting him deepen the kiss with reckless abandon.


    Her limbs felt weak and useless. All she could do was open her mouth and bite down–hard.


    No hesitation, no second thoughts.


    If anything, her resistance only seemed to inme him.


    He jerked his head aside and sank his teeth into her corbone.


    He didn’t hold back on the pressure.


    Noreen gasped in pain, struggling frantically. “Seth, what the hell is wrong with you?”


    “Let me go!”


    He said nothing, the fury in his eyes almost destructive.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>19:06 </b>


    His hand, which had been gripping her waist, yanked at her pajama top, tearing the fabric with a


    sharp rip.


    The sound shredded herposure. Something inside her snapped.


    She summoned every ounce of strength she had left and pped him hard across the face.


    This time, he didn’t dodge. The blownded with a crack, jerking his head to the side.


    Noreen was breathing hard, her palm stinging just as much as her pride.


    She clenched her hand into a fist, forcing herself not to break down.


    Perfect. Her heart, patched and battered, had been ripped wide open by him yet again.


    Maybe the p jolted him back to reality.


    Seth loosened his grip and took a step back.


    Her lips were smeared with a trace of blood.


    His blood.


    The cor of her pajamas hung in tatters, exposing one pale shoulder.


    A fresh bite mark stood out, raw and angry, on her skin.


    Noreen’splexion was naturally fair, which made the mark look even more vicious.


    The red burned into his vision.


    Seth’s throat tightened like invisible hands were choking him. He couldn’t find any words.


    They stood there, both catching their breath, time stretching out between them.


    Atst, Noreen gathered her torn cor around herself and opened the door.


    “Get out,” she said quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper, as if it came from somewhere far


    away.


    It matched her perfectly in that moment–like she was about to shatter.


    Something pierced Seth’s chest.


    He stood silent for five seconds before finally speaking. “I’m sorry. I was drunk.”


    “Oh, so being drunk gives you the right to storm into my home and lose your mind?” Noreen’sugh was sharp, almost brittle. “Seth, you make me sick.”


    He fell silent again, just for a moment.


    “Just go. Don’te back. Don’t make me regret ever loving you.”


    Seth’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he tried to swallow whatever words were caught in his throat.


    He looked like he wanted to say something, but couldn’t find the ce to begin.


    Before he could speak, Bianca Lowell’s call came through.


    By the time Bianca arrived, Seth was sitting on the edge of a flowerbed outside, a cigarette burning


    19:06


    down to the filter between his fingers, unmoving.


    A chilly night breeze swept over him.