Will held me tightly, mindful of my right side as silent sobs wracked my body. Gut-wrenching, heart-stopping fear, unlike anything I'd ever known, still gripped me. I couldn't stop shaking. I couldn't stop seeing Will ram into Declan and tackle him to the ground.

It was only when I found the courage to pull away that I scanned Will's face. A bruise peeked out from under his hairline, and his eyes were shadowed with exhaustion and shock, but thankfully, those were the only physical signs of his altercation with Declan.

Will's eyes never left mine as he spoke. "He tried to get away, but I kept him there until the police arrived. Because the hearing is next week, they can only hold him until Monday. But regardless of how the hearing turns out, a restraining order will be issued. I told them about him grabbing..."

He trailed off, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled to regain control of his emotions. Swallowing hard, he squeezed my hand before continuing. "I told them about him grabbing Lia and trying to take her. I explained how she'd tried to free herself but was unable to because he was violently shaking her, leaving her dazed."

I tuned out the rest of Will's words, burying my face in his chest and trying to control my breathing. Every time I shut my eyes, I saw Declan punch through the window and grab me. I felt the dull pins and needles that had stabbed my arm as he'd gripped it painfully. When a knock sounded on the front door, I jumped a mile, biting back a scream as pins and needles jolted through my arm and leg.

Skye reached out to steady me. Julie took a deep breath before walking to the door and opening it. I froze, my heart stopping dead in my chest, as a painfully familiar voice—faint but distinct—filled my ears. I couldn't make out what she was saying, but I knew who it was. When Julie spoke again, her voice was strained. "Malia, someone's here to see you."

I didn't turn around, but I heard the sound of footsteps, then the door closing as Daniela walked inside. I didn't move a muscle as she sat in front of me, but didn't try to touch me. Her face was tear-stained and pale, but anger blazed in her eyes—so much so that I fought back a shudder. "Malia," she whispered hoarsely, fresh tears glittering in her eyes. "I—I'm so sorry. I should have—I should have been there to protect you."

Silent sobs shook her body, but I made no move to comfort her. I hadn't said a word since telling Skye and Liv what had happened. It had taken every ounce of self-control I had not to jerk out of Skye's grip when I'd arrived at the Callahans'. I could barely stand the comforting grip of Will's arm around me now.

I wasn't sure when it had started. Maybe when Declan had punched through the passenger-side window, unlocked the door, and thrown it open, or when he'd roughly grabbed my arm and hauled me out of the car. Nevertheless, I found myself involuntarily shrinking away from Will as I curled deeper into the couch.

I knew—without a shadow of a doubt—that Will would never even entertain the thought of harming me. But Declan's attack (never mind the bruises and pain from said attack) was still so fresh in my mind that the mere thought of Will touching me sent blinding panic racing through me.

Will noticed and immediately pulled back, his eyes scanning my face. He nodded, but I could see the hurt that flashed across his face.

When I spoke, my voice rough and hoarse from screaming, everyone flinched. "It's not—it's not you." I stared into his eyes, hoping he saw the truth in them. My words were halting and unsteady, but I didn't stop. "You know—you know that I love you. But after what—after what he did, I just can't."

Tears spilled over as the last word left my mouth, and I hated myself for it. I didn't want what Declan had done to have affected me, but it had. Just as the after-effects of the wreck still plagued me. Will's gaze was full of love and compassion when he spoke. "I know. And you know that I love you. The thought of me hurting you—physically or otherwise—makes me ill. I want to help you heal from this, but only if you'll let me. If not, I'll step back, no questions asked."

Julie took a breath before speaking, her voice low. "Do you have any idea why Declan would..." She trailed off, her face blanching in fear as she struggled to get the next words out. "Target you?"

That one word—target—sent a wave of nausea crashing over me so violently I had my crutch under me and was racing for the bathroom as fast as my body would carry me. My stomach flipped over as the truck had, and I barely had time to lift the lid before I emptied the contents of my stomach. An acrid, bitter scent filled my nostrils, but I shut my eyes and didn't move until I stopped heaving and my stomach finally calmed down.

Declan's words echoed in my head so loudly that I jerked my head around to make sure he wasn't actually there. "'Not so fast, Lia. You're not going to get away from me this time.'"

Julie's voice immediately followed Declan's, and for a heartbeat that seemed to last forever, I couldn't distinguish reality from memory. "Malia? I'm going to help you get into bed." When Julie's hand touched my shoulder, I didn't even have the energy to flinch. The adrenaline had drained from my body along with the nausea, bringing back the bone-deep weariness I'd felt after running to their house.

I'd been leaning my head against the seat of the toilet, fighting to keep my eyes open. It wasn't until Julie touched me that I realized I'd closed them. Everything was muffled and hazy, like I was underwater and had opened my eyes with no goggles. My tongue stuck to the roof of my dry mouth like I hadn't had a drink of water in months. My eyes fluttered shut again as my head drooped, lolling on my shoulder, when she gently pulled me off the bathroom floor. I knew Will had pulled my right arm over his shoulder by the dull prickling that crept down from my shoulder to my hand.

I didn't have the energy or the self-control to flinch away from Will's touch. Only when I had gotten into the bed in the guest room did Will speak, his voice low and very close. "I'm here, Lia. I'll stay for as long as you need me to. But if you want me to leave, I will." I could hear the pain in his voice, and my heart hurt at the sound.

I opened my eyes to slits, taking a breath before trying to speak. "P-please don't—please don't leave." My voice sounded like I'd swallowed a mouthful of gravel. "W-where's Julie?"

I heard Will take a breath and exhale slowly before speaking. "Mom's in the living room with Daniela. They're trying to figure out what to do next. From what I heard, Daniela has tried several times to contact Declan, but he hasn't picked up. Mom answered when the police called your phone; they were able to find Declan's car, but not Declan himself. I wouldn't be surprised if he fled on foot like the coward he is."

Though I knew he hadn't meant them that way, I jerked back as though his words had physically struck me. A single sentence from our fight weeks ago surfaced in my head, bringing with it a fresh wave of regret and shame. "'I WOULDN'T LEAVE LIKE A COWARD!'"

I watched guilt flash across Will's face as his words registered. He winced, and I knew he was thinking the same thing I was. "I didn't... I wasn't thinking. That was a poor choice of words." He swallowed but didn't try to touch me. When he spoke again, his voice was low, filled with a quiet anger I hadn't heard in a long time. "You heard him, didn't you? When you were in the bathroom. I saw you flinch and jerk your head around, scanning the bathroom like you'd heard something. Or someone."

I shuddered as I squeezed my eyes shut. "Declan's words echoed in my head so loudly that I jerked my head around to make sure he wasn't actually there. 'Not so fast, Lia. You're not getting away from me this time.'"

My breathing quickened as I felt my heart begin to race. I was so tired, but I dreaded sleep as much as I craved it. I knew if I closed my eyes, I would see myself running away from Declan, the sounds of Will and Declan fighting echoing in my ears. I would hear Will's voice as he yelled for me to run. "'Malia! Lia, run!'"

I sank back into the pillows, taking slow, calming breaths. His words were soft and tender as he spoke. "Can I get you something to eat or drink? Mom said you haven't eaten in a while."

I was panting heavily, sweat pouring down my face as I struggled to sit up. All I wanted to do was sleep for a week, but I knew I had to eat something, or I wouldn't be able to function tomorrow. The nausea had disappeared almost as quickly as it had come, leaving a gaping emptiness inside me. "Some crackers and ginger ale would be great, thanks."

He nodded, then texted Liv, who knocked on the door moments later. "Malia? Will? Can I come in?"

Will looked at me as if to confirm, but I was already nodding. His voice was soft when he responded. "Yeah, Liv. Come on in."

I heard the door creak open a heartbeat before I saw Liv's face. I could see the anxiety lining her features, but she forced a shaky smile to her lips. She held a tray containing a can of ginger ale with a straw and a plate of crackers. "How are you feeling?"

I took a deep breath before responding. "Better. Thanks." My eyelids fluttered closed, but I forced them open again when I felt my heartbeat and breathing quicken.

Will gripped my hand as I met his gaze. "You're safe, Lia. I'm right here. We're both safe."

I swallowed past the lump that formed in my throat as I reached for a cracker. "We should jump into Montgues and check on Dimitri and Noemi, update them on what's happened." Technically, it wasn't a lie—I really did want to check on them and tell them what had happened. But the safety and comfort I usually felt in the Callahans' home had been replaced by an uneasy restlessness that wouldn't abate.

I saw the quizzical glance Liv shot Will but didn't comment on it. I felt like the walls were closing in on me. I didn't know if it was the memory of Declan's attack or simply the fact that he had done it in the first place that had me so uneasy. All I knew for sure was that I needed to get away from Chalmet for a while.

Will cleared his throat and glanced down at me. "Are you sure?" I knew he was just worried about me, but if I lay in this bed for much longer, I was going to go crazy. Already, I could feel a panic attack rising inside me, a cresting wave about to break.

I craned my neck to meet his gaze, letting him see the desperation in my eyes. I knew we would most likely have to stay in Montgues for a few days, but I didn't care. I hoped—I prayed with everything in me—that Declan would remain in Chalmet until the divorce. If he were here, then we wouldn't have to worry about running into him in Montgues. "We can both pack a bag, feed Julie and Liv a story about me fearing for my safety after Declan's attack."

Which, again, was not a lie. As much as I hated not telling the whole truth to Julie and Liv—I had to fight back rising nausea at the thought—I knew it was the safest thing to do. It was bad enough that I had gotten Will involved; the last thing I needed was to bring Julie and Liv into this, too. Will's face was hard, his jaw tense, but I let out a silent breath of relief when he eventually nodded. "Okay. You start packing, and I'll go tell Mom and Liv."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked rapidly to quell them. After Will left, I slowly got out of bed, taking deep, calming breaths. Hand shaking, I grabbed the bag with which I'd initially arrived at the Callahans'—a bag I'd had for years and used countless times before—and began absentmindedly pulling clothes out, then stuffing them back inside. It wasn't until my vision blurred and my breath turned shallow and rasping that I realized I was crying. Terror, anxiety, sadness, and desperation coalesced in my gut to form a ball of tension.

I hadn't told anyone—not even Will—but I kept hearing Declan's voice as he'd pulled me out of the truck. "'Not so fast, Lia. You're not going to get away from me this time.'"

Every time I pulled more clothes out before simultaneously stuffing them back into the bag, my hands shook so violently I couldn't keep a grip on them. Sweat poured down my face and stung my eyes. I could feel my chest rising and falling as I breathed, but I didn't feel like any air was getting in.

All I could see was Declan pulling me out of the car—all I could hear was my scream ringing in my ears, followed by his cruel voice. "'Not so fast, Lia. You're not going to be able to get away from me this time.'"

I felt as though my heart was going to explode out of my chest. He'd done it—he'd taken me—he'd taken me away from—

My thundering heartbeat drowned out my screams and his voice until it was all I could hear. When I felt gentle hands on me, I screamed as I flinched away, scrambling backward. My back hit the wall with a muffled thud. A voice—muffled but close—filled my ears, but I struggled to hear it over the sound of my thundering heartbeat.

"Malia? Sweetheart... hear me? You're safe, I promise. You're... panic attack. I'm right here. You will... this. I'm right here, honey. Just focus... sound of my voice. Take... breaths. That's it, Malia. Just... sweetheart. You're safe here, I promise."

Gradually, I felt my heartbeat and breathing return to normal. Blinking past the tears in my blurry vision, I could just make out Julie's face in front of me. My limbs turned to jelly, trembling uncontrollably as I fell into her arms. I struggled to pull air in and push it out through lungs that felt constricted.

Julie never let go of me, just kept rubbing my back as I struggled to control my breathing. She rubbed my back in soothing circles, the repetitive motion strangely calming. I was the one who finally pulled away, lightheaded and drained from crying. Her voice was soft and soothing as she spoke. "Don't try to get up. Liv, honey, get Malia a glass of water, please."

I met her warm, comforting gaze and immediately saw the concern in it. My voice was hoarse and worn when I finally managed to speak. "I'm... I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "Don't apologize, sweetie. Are you okay? Is something wrong?"

I wanted to tell her everything—Declan, hearing his voice and the sound of my scream as he'd yanked me from the truck—but the words wouldn't come. Will bent down in front of me, his eyes shadowed with worry. "We need to go."

It wasn't until the words left his mouth that I noticed a bag alongside my own, packed and ready to go. My words were barely more than a push of breath, nearly drowned out by the sound of my heart thudding in my ears. "What did you... What did you tell them?"

After such an intense panic attack, I couldn't keep my eyes open as Will pulled me into his arms. "The truth," he said softly, his lips nearly brushing my ear. "Sleep, Lia. I've got you, my love."

Half-asleep, I managed to lift a shaking hand and snap my fingers, the sound barely audible. The last thing I was aware of before the swirling void swallowed us up was Will tightening his grip on my arms. I was so tired. But I clung to the hope that once we arrived in Montgues, everything would be okay. After everything that had happened, I should have known better than to pray for that.