“If you ever touch me again, Franklin,” she said quietly enough for only him to hear, “make sure you can afford the consequences.”

The words were soft but they struck him like thunder.

Franklin’s jaw tightened.

“Lia…” he whispered, his voice low and rough, his fist clenching beside him. He thought his presence, his words, his message, his gaze would be enough to make her falter to make her shiver or soften, like she once used to. But there she stood, right in front of him, unbothered, unafraid, her eyes blazing with the kind of strength he had never seen before.

Around them, the whispers began. Soft murmurs rippled through...