Blood in the Shadows
"Darling!"
Choking back a sob, Mia fell into his arms. Her entire body shuddered as if she'd been supporting the world on her shoulders and had finally fallen. Both arms encircled him with frantic force, her nails digging through his shirt, holding on like he was going to disappear if she did.
Tears ran down her face in burning, unyielding torrents, seeping into his chest.
Leon caught her immediately, as if her weight was meant to be in his arms. He wrapped her tightly—protective, stabilizing, one hand against the back of her head, the other tracing slow, soothing circles down her spine. His jaw clenched, but his voice remained low and steady.
"Mia…" he breathed, his chest shuddering against her ear.
Her words shattered in splintered fragments, muffled against him.
"I–I missed you… so much… I can't—" Her breath caught convulsively. "I need you. I need you, Leon!"
The harshness of her cry cut through him.
