“I’m serious, I’m really fine,” Rose said with an exasperated sigh as Jaden propped the pillow properly behind her. He leaned away and sat back down in the chair he’d dragged forward. She shook her head, watching him with a mix of amusement and fondness.

If someone had told her that on a peaceful afternoon, en route to the gym, a young, bloody man would leap into the backseat of her car, beg her to drive, and then she’d end up shot—she would’ve laughed until she cried. The absurdity of it still hit her like a punchline she hadn’t seen coming.

Jaden’s voice snapped her from the thought. “And I...