Sally's POV
Karl stops his relentless pacing, his intense stare cutting through me like a blade. The pain radiating from his dark eyes hits me square in the chest, mixed with a fury so raw it makes my breath catch.
He draws in a trembling breath. "Sally, would you walk outside with me?"
I nod without hesitation, accepting his outstretched hand and allowing him to guide me to my feet. The evening air kisses my heated cheeks, cool and refreshing against my skin. The second the door clicks shut behind us, Karl's arms encircle me with desperate intensity.
"I let you down." His voice comes out gravelly and broken, slicing through my defenses. "Both of you. I should have known better than to leave you exposed. I understood exactly what kind of dangers existed in this world, yet I still wasn't there when you needed me most."
"Karl, please don't..."
