Chapter 56

Valerie's POV

The edge in his voice scraped something raw in me. "I'm not sneaking around, Darius. I'm sure you know that too. And if I decide to face him, it will be on my terms, not his."

He stepped closer, shadows sharpening the lines of his jaw. His voice dropped to a low growl. "Then let me be there when you do."

Heat flared in my chest—anger, defiance, and something else I refused to name.

"