My back slammed against a wall. I blinked. How much did I have to drink? A pair of shoes stepped close to me. Confused, I looked up to find Enzo glaring at me, his thick eyebrows pinched. Before I could say a word, his hand wrapped around my throat.

“Why are you here?” he growled.

That voice, mixed with his swirling anger, made every last nerve in my body ignite like Christmas lights. I opened my mouth, but his hand tightened, cutting off my air and ability to speak. Still, I didn’t stop him from what he was doing. It felt good dancing on the edge of a live wire, not knowing if he would end it all.

God, I need this.

“You should have stayed away.”

I know. Trust me, I know.

My body lifted toward his automatically. Even now, he was too far away. I was desperate to feel his touch, to drown in the way his mouth tasted as the scent of his cologne blanketed me and made me feel… safe. I wanted to laugh. When I was near him, I was both safe and terrified. How was that normal?

Enzo’s dark eyes searched my face. I saw something in his eyes, something dangerous and dark. He could kill me. The rage was right there, waiting to be unleashed. But I wasn’t ready to die.

His lips crashed against mine, stealing what little air I had left. The world spun, spots of blackness coming and disappearing from my vision. My body shoved forward, seeking him out. I’m going to pass out if he doesn’t let it. I grabbed his arms and yanked straight down. His grip slipped, and I used the opportunity to raise my knee, driving it into his stomach. I coughed as he recoiled, trying to drag a breath into my tight lungs.

“Shit,” I groaned. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Yes.”

I blinked up at him as I doubled over, using my knees for support. “At least you’re honest.”

He pulled a face. “Last time we were face to face, you practically called me a liar.”

I licked my lips and straightened up. “Yeah, I did. I know now that you weren’t lying. Chelsea told me all about Brycen.”

Enzo’s frown deepened. “You’re staying with her?”

“No,” I said. “That’s not the point anyway.”

“What is the point?” he countered.

I opened my mouth and snapped it shut again. I didn’t have a point.

Enzo closed the space between us in two short strides. His hand went for my throat, but I sidestepped him. Enzo grunted as he stopped himself against the brick wall. He turned, his dark eyes glaring at me.

“You left.”

“I told you I had to,” I shot back. “You don’t listen.”

“What part of ‘you’re mine’ didn’t you fucking understand?”

Enzo lunged for me, and I was too slow to dodge him. I expected the heavy, hot weight of his hand around my neck. Instead, what I got were his lips on mine. Hard, rough, and sharp, the kiss pushed me to the brink of my sanity and threatened to drop me off the edge.