"Are you hurt? Rosa. are you alright? I'm so sorry." Axel hugged her tightly, practically crushing the air from her lungs.

"She was waiting for you. She said you had told her to wait here, that you would meet her here..."

Axel looked down at Rosa, his eyes filled with sorrow. "And you believe that? You believe I would do that... to you?"

Rosa shook her head and buried her face against his chest. But his fingers fitted under her chin and he lifted her face to look at him. "Tell me you mean that. Tell me you don't believe her crazy lies."

"I don't believe her." Rosa spoke the...