“Ace!” I shot my eyes open, my vision blurred with tears. “No! No, no! Ace! Please no!” Jolting up, I tried to get up, but a pair of arms held me back as I thrashed in their hold.

I didn’t know where I was. I couldn’t see or hear anything. All I could think about and see was the accident. The horrible car accident, the same car my Ace was in.

“Ace needs me! He needs me! Let me go!” I screamed, continuing fighting.

“Rosebud, Rosebud, calm down! I’m here. I’m here with you, baby, just calm down!” A voice reached my ears, but I couldn’t concentrate on it.

“Let me go! My Ace needs me! Please—”

“Rosebud, look at me!” Cupping my face, he made me look at him.

“No…” My voice caught in my throat as his stormy gray eyes met mine. They held concern and the same affection they always bore for me there.

Then I realized where I was.

I was in the arms of my Ace.

“Ace…” a whisper left my lips, eyes not moving from his beautiful face.

He nodded, kissing my forehead. “Yes, baby. Your Ace, I’m here with you. I’m fine, and so are you. Everything is all right now, sweetheart. Calm down. Everything is fine.”

“You… you’re here. You’re here with me. You’re all right.” Touching his face, shoulder, and chest to make my heart believe that he was really there, I let out a sob and wrapped my arms around him.

Taking me in the cocoon of his arms, he held me close, nuzzling my neck.

“I thought I lost you! I… I was so scared. I-I saw the video, I…” I stuttered in between my sobs.

But the tightness of my chest was slowly dissipating as I had him in my arms.

He was safe. Alive. I didn’t lose him.

Clutching him closer to me, I hid my head in his chest. His intoxicating scent filled my nostrils, soothing my chaotic mind. I took some more greedy inhales.

“I’d never leave you, baby. Never ever. I’m here with you. I didn’t go anywhere. You know I can’t leave my Rosebud alone.” Tightening his arms around me, he rubbed his hand over my back gently. His deep voice murmuring in the crook of my neck was like an ice to my burning soul.

With my lips trembling, more tears fell. I pressed my lips against his chest. “Promise me you’ll never leave me again like that.”

“I promise. I’ll never leave you alone again, Rosebud. I swear to you that.” Determination ran deep in his tone. The way his grip only tightened, and his shoulders were stiff, I could tell everything that happened equally bothered him as much as it did to me.